By F. D. Adkins
I had heard that a baby could start to recognize voices in the womb. So, during my pregnancies, I talked, sang, and even read books to them. I want to be clear that I am not an expert on the matter, nor have I researched the evidence to back up the theory. However, when I was pregnant with my son, my commute to work was rather long. Every morning, as I drove to the bank, I would sing “Jesus Loves Me” to him. At the hospital, a couple of days after he was born, my husband and I discovered when my son cried, if I would sing “Jesus Loves Me”, it would calm him.
My verses to memorize this week are John 10:27-28. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (KJV)
In John chapter ten, the Jews surround Jesus and question Him, asking if He is the Christ.
“Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.” John 10:24 KJV
Jesus responds by not only detailing that He has already told them, but that the miracles and works He has done in His Father’s Name are evidence.
“Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.” John 10:25 KJV
Jesus continues by explaining that because they choose not to believe, they do not listen. And because they do not hear Him, they are not His sheep.
“But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 26-27 KJV
It is often said that the older we get, the more we get stuck in our ways. And I have to admit that I frequently see that in myself. I make my bed as soon as I get out of it, and it would trouble me to no end to walk out of my bedroom without doing it. E-books may be cheaper, but I grew up holding a paper copy in my hand. The only way I read an e-book is if the paper copy is not available or a tremendous difference in price forces it. In school, I learned there were nine planets. It does not matter that our children are taught there are only eight. If someone asks, I will still probably note that Pluto is a planet.
The Jews addressing Jesus in John chapter ten did not want to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. They did not want to open their ears to Jesus’ words or take in the evidence of His works.
On the contrary, Jesus’ sheep hear His voice, and He knows them, and they follow Him.
(Powerful question to ask myself: When I hear His voice, do I always follow? If I get stuck in my comfort zone, do I listen and go where He leads?)
I want to close with the reminder of what it truly means to be a follower of Christ, one of Jesus’ sheep.
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:28 KJV
Even though this is not the specific verse I refer to throughout Book One in my TRUTH series, I feel this is the key message I hope the book relates. If we belong to Christ… if we have sincerely invited Him into our hearts… we may endure trials and tribulations… the enemy may try to trip us up on every corner… But NO ONE or NOTHING can take us from the hands of our Savior.
“… neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:28 KJV
