John 10:27 (KJV) My sheep hear my voice, and 
I know them, and they follow me:  

INTRODUCTION

In this grand statement, Jesus summarized 
the blessings of those who truly listen to and 
believe the gospel. The believer in Jesus knows him 
personally, has eternal life, will not perish, and is 
secure in his care. But many of those who heard had 
no intention of truly listening. It is also 
true that those refusing to listen to Jesus' 
voice are not his sheep. We recognize Christ's 
voice when he speaks to us through the Bible. Are 
we truly listening for it? (Life Application 
Commentary) 

COMMENTARY PEARL

Recognize His Voice
   I have never heard the voice of the Lord 
audibly, but the Lord has spoken to me many times 
throughout my life. You might ask, "How can someone 
recognize His voice?" To recognize the voice of the 
Lord, we must belong to Him. 
   Ruth never had to identify herself when 
she called me on my many trips around the world. 
When I picked up the phone and heard her speak, I 
knew the voice of my wife. That was years before 
mobile phones and caller ID. I never had to ask my 
children to identify themselves by name when they 
phoned. We recognize the voices of those who are 
dear to us and those with whom we commune. 
   Likewise, if we are communicating with 
the Lord Jesus through prayer and meditating on 
His Word, our spirits will identify with His 
voice. The Lord would not expect us to hear His 
voice if He did not make it possible. "I will give 
them hearts that recognize me as the LORD" 
(Jeremiah 24:7 NLT); and "Obey My voice, and I will be 
your God" (Jeremiah 7:23). 
   How does obedience help you hear the 
Lord's voice more clearly? [Peace for Each Day by 
Billy Graham] 

COMMENTARY 

   I visited my daughter's family for a few 
weeks while they awaited the birth of their fourth 
child. Their three other children and I arrived at 
the hospital about an hour after Leona was born. 
I snapped photos while the family took turns 
holding the new baby girl, amazed at how alert and 
content she seemed - considering what she had just 
gone through. She'd left her cozy environment for 
an open space filled with bright lights, 
noises, and all sorts of strange sensations on her 
skin. Yet, each time Leona was passed around, she 
usually seemed calm, quietly moving her arms 
around. 
   Finally, my anxious arms got to hold the 
baby. Both then and over the next couple of days, 
I noticed a difference when I talked to her: 
She didn't recognize my voice. She didn't 
necessarily cry, but she didn't appear to feel as calm 
and settled. Although Leona couldn't focus her 
eyes to see faces dearly at first, she knew when 
a family member held her because she had been 
hearing their voices for months. And that familiar 
voice made her feel safe. 
   Jesus said that His followers hear and 
recognize His voice. Since we live in a world full of 
noise and distraction, it's not always easy to 
hear our Shepherd's voice speaking to us. If 
we're not thoroughly familiar with His voice, we 
may confuse it with others that try to lead us 
astray. It's crucial to stay attuned to Jesus's 
voice by spending time in prayer, Bible reading, 
and active listening for His guidance. Then, 
even if we can't clearly see His presence in our 
situation, we will remember that we are safe in His 
arms. Dianne Neal Matthews 
   Faith Step: Take time today to listen to 
Jesus's voice. Thank Him for holding you in His 
loving arms. [Mornings With Jesus 2021 Devotional 
by Guideposts and Zondervan] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY 

John 10:27: The Voice of God.

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190917-1038.html 

Psalm 46:10 - Being Still to Know God.

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220525-0928.html 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/