Listen, Known, Follow

Read

John 10:27 "'My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me.'"

Think

What a month it has been. We learned that Jesus is the good shepherd who knows our name. We discovered how to read the Bible, God’s own words that feed our hearts. We saw that we are branches connected to Jesus the vine. And this week we followed young Samuel as he learned to say, “Speak, Lord, I’m listening.” Today our memory verse pulls the whole month together one last time.

“My sheep listen to my voice.” Think of Samuel, sitting up in the dark, finally ready to hear God speak. That is what listening looks like. All month, this has been our invitation, to get quiet and pay attention to the God who is speaking.

“I know them.” God knew Samuel by name and called him in the night. God knew you before you ever listened for him. The shepherd knows his sheep, the gardener knows his branches, and God knows you completely, inside and out.

“And they follow me.” Samuel did not just hear God. He grew up walking with God his whole life. Following is where all this listening leads. It is not enough to just hear the shepherd. The sheep get up and go where he leads.

Here is the bridge to the rest of your life. This month is not the end of the story. It is the beginning. Like Samuel, you have started learning to hear God. Now you get to keep listening, keep remembering that he knows you, and keep following him, day after day, year after year.

So say this verse one more time and let it become a little prayer. “Lord, I want to listen to your voice. Thank you that you know me. Help me follow you.” You are one of the shepherd’s sheep. He knows your name, and he is calling you to follow. What a good place to be.

Apply

Carry it forward – Say this month’s memory verse one last time. Then pick one thing you learned this month about hearing God and decide to keep doing it, so the story keeps going in your life.

Pray

Jesus, thank you for this whole month of learning to hear you. You are my good shepherd. Help me keep listening to your voice, remember that you know me, and follow you all my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.