Hearing His Call
My father-in-law was a farmer. He raised cows and pigs. His milk cows roamed all over his acreage. Each evening when it came time to milk the cows, he did not have to chase them down or round them up. He would go to the barn and holler the word “silk” over and over. I did not know what the word meant but I figured that his cows did because they always came to the barn.
It was such an interesting thing to see so I went out there myself one day and tried the “silk” call. I shouted “silk, silk, silk” for several minutes. Nothing happened and no cows came to the barn. I was wrong about the cows knowing the meaning of the word. They did not know the word; they knew the voice of the farmer. It was his voice they were following. Another voice they would not follow.
In that same way, Jesus is our leader. He is our shepherd. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) Those who love Jesus and belong to Him, hear his voice and follow it. If someone comes and tries to lead them astray, they reject the stranger. In that same chapter, Jesus said, “They will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” (10:5)
One of the most emotional pictures in the Bible is the heartbreaking scene of Jesus looking out over the city of Jerusalem and saying, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem… how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” (Matthew 23:37)
Jesus still calls us. It is not “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,” but it is our name that He calls. He calls, “Come to me.” Will you hear His voice?
Jesus also said:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and
learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
…Matthew 11:28-29
~Lonnie Davis