Hearing and Following

June 5, 2025
“Hearing and Following”

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
—Matthew 10:27 (ESV)

It’s easy to assume that if people just had more proof, more signs, more clarity—they would believe. But human nature hasn’t changed much. Even in Jesus’ day, the crowds who saw His miracles and heard His teachings firsthand still struggled to believe. In John 10, they demanded that He “tell us plainly” who He was, despite the evidence that had been placed directly before them.

And people today are no different. Jesus is still changing lives. His power is still on display. His message is still transforming hearts. But many still stumble at the threshold of faith—not because of a lack of evidence, but because faith requires something deeper: trust.
Jesus makes it clear. He says His sheep do three things:

1. They hear His voice.
2. He knows them.
3. They follow Him.

It all starts with hearing—but not the kind of hearing that’s passive. Not just letting words pass over us like background noise. Jesus is talking about active hearing—a word used nearly 400 times in the New Testament and almost always connected to a response. It's the difference between hearing and listening. In marriage, you can hear your spouse’s voice and still not be listening. In faith, the same is true. We can hear Scripture, sermons, and songs—yet still never let it change our direction.

Jesus is inviting us into something much more: a relationship marked by trust. He knows His sheep, and they know His voice. That knowledge leads to intimacy. Intimacy leads to trust. And trust leads to obedience.

The reason many people stay stuck at the edge of belief isn’t because Jesus hasn’t made Himself clear. It’s because faith doesn’t always give us all the answers we think we need. Faith says, “Even if I don’t see the full picture, I trust Your voice.” And that voice—gentle, loving, firm, faithful—is always calling.

So maybe the problem isn’t that Jesus hasn’t spoken. Maybe we just need to clear out the noise, tune our hearts, and truly listen.

Reflection Question:
Are you actively listening for the voice of Jesus in your life—and what might He be calling you to follow Him into today?
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You that You still speak. Help me to hear Your voice—not just as background noise, but with a heart that’s ready to listen and obey. Teach me to trust You even when I don’t have all the answers. Help me follow wherever You may lead. Amen.