May 30, 2023
Today’s Reading: John 10:1-10
Daily Lectionary: Numbers 22:21-23, Luke 22:24-46
The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. (John 10:3-4)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Where do you go to hear God’s voice? Some would direct you inward to your desires; “Search your feelings,” they say. Some would beckon you to the ways and whims of this fallen world like Ulysses and the siren’s call. Some would tempt you to find God’s voice in the things of this creation, like Satan tempting Adam and Eve. To find God’s voice you need not look inward to your sinful flesh, nor outward to the fallen world, nor to the devil’s lies.
Where do you go to hear God’s voice? Go where He promises to speak to you in His Word through the voice of His Son Jesus. If you want to hear God’s voice look no further than the voice of Jesus who speaks, teaches, preaches, calls, leads, and delivers you in His holy Word. As sheep of the Good Shepherd we could start by listening to Jesus’ voice in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But don’t stop there. Read the book of Acts and hear the voice of the Good Shepherd leading, guiding, and saving His church. Go on further and read the epistles written by Paul, Peter, Jude, James, John just to name a few, and hear the voice of the Good Shepherd declaring His promises to you over and over again.
The New Testament is full of the voice of Jesus the Good Shepherd, but don’t stop there. Wherever you turn in the Old Testament, whether it’s the Psalms, prophets, or books of Moses, you will find and hear the voice of Jesus the Good Shepherd. Wherever you read God’s word, from Genesis to Revelation, you are listening to the voice of the Good Shepherd.
In God’s word in your Baptism the Good Shepherd calls you by name. In God’s word of absolution the Good Shepherd calls you out of darkness and into His light and life. In God’s word joined to bread and wine, the Good Shepherd feeds you His body and blood. In God’s word Jesus the Good Shepherd speaks, calls, saves, leads, and goes before you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Almighty God, merciful Father, since You have wakened from death the Shepherd of Your sheep, grant us Your Holy Spirit that when we hear the voice of our Shepherd we may know Him who calls us each by name and follow where He leads; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for the 4th Sunday of Easter)
-Pastor Samuel Schuldheisz is Pastor at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA
Audio Reflections Speaker: Jonathan Lackey is an LCMS seminarian.
Study Christ’s words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.
