Springtime in Montana brings fresh air and the melting snow. Fields become green and the glistening snowcapped peaks remind us of frozen winters past. While the trees are leafing out to new life the little lambs in our field begin to play and enjoy the new warmth of Spring. Leaping and running from mama sheep to climbing little hills of hay only to leap and frolic in the new grass again and again. It is a joyful time of peace in the shepherd’s field.
One particular Spring evening as the western sun began to set behind the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana a friend asked me a simple question. “Do sheep really know the voice of their shepherd?” I, the shepherd of my little flock of sheep pondered how to answer this simple yet sincere question. For a moment we stood together and watched the clouds float by in the orange, grey and yellow of sunset. Bright colors silhouetted by the majesty of the snowcapped mountains. There was no wind. No noise. Silence. Complete stillness except for the grazing of the mama ewes and the frolicking of the playful lambs.
Speaking to all of us, His human sheep, our shepherd Jesus said, “And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them: and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice” (John 10:4). My friend’s real question was how true is this statement of Jesus? Do sheep really know the voice of their shepherd?
One by one my ewe sheep grazed about 20 yards from where we stood. The silence and beauty of the fading day was profound. One by one I quietly, almost in a whisper, called out the names of my little flock of sheep. Angel, Sweatpea, Eve, Bev, Bingo, Janette. One by one as their name was called, each and every sheep stopped their grazing, looked directly at me then bawd a quiet “hello” back to me, their shepherd. They knew the voice of their shepherd. Silently then, one by one, they went back to grazing in the peaceful green field. My friend was astonished.
Jesus, our Godly shepherd knows us and we know His voice (John 10:14). He is the good shepherd willing to give His life for us (John 10:11). He repeatedly tells us He is willing to lay down His life for us (John 10:11,15,17). He came to live and die for us. To take the sting of death from this world. To be the sacrificial lamb and the first fruits of God’s salvation. He came to reconcile us to God the Father. He came as a small human lamb for the slaughter. He listened to and obeyed the voice of His Father. He is now our Shepherd who both hears and speaks to us.
Are we listening for His voice? Do we look up and acknowledge Jesus, our savior when he whispers His voice to us? Do we hear what He has to say?
Listen to the quiet voice of our Shepherd Savior and reconciler to God.
Listen. He calls to us and we can hear Him. He knows us and we know His voice. Listen and we will hear Him, our Savior, Jesus!
Mike Wallace
COG7 Montana Coordinator
All scripture quotations NKJV
