November 17 — "Hearing. Knowing. Following."

Today's Reading: John10:22-42

Imagine standing in a noisy crowd—voices shouting, merchants haggling, children laughing—and suddenly, one familiar voice calls your name. Instantly, you turn toward it. You don’t have to think. You know that voice. That’s what Jesus describes in John 10:27–28: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” This is not just a countryside metaphor—it’s a portrait of divine intimacy.

The big idea here is simple yet staggering: relationship. The Christian life is not about cold religion or rule keeping—it’s about a living, listening, interacting relationship with the Shepherd of our souls. Notice the progression: hearing, knowing, following. It’s personal and continuous. “My sheep hear My voice”—they’re tuned to Him, like a radio that’s locked onto the right frequency. “I know them”—the Greek word for “know” (ginōskō) means to know deeply, experientially, personally, relationally. It’s the same word used when Scripture says, “Adam knew Eve.” Jesus doesn’t just recognize you—He knows you, inside and out, and loves you deeply. And “they follow Me”—that’s obedience rooted in affection, not fear.

When I first began to follow Jesus, I thought His voice would always sound loud and dramatic. Over time, I’ve learned it’s often still and gentle—heard in the quiet conviction of the Spirit, the wisdom of Scripture, the counsel of godly friends. The key is walking with Him. The Shepherd leads, we follow. He speaks, we listen. He holds, we rest.

Then comes the promise that silences every fear: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” That word “never” is emphatic in the Greek—no way, under no circumstance. The Shepherd’s grip is unbreakable. “No one will snatch them out of My hand.” You’re doubly held—by the Son’s hand and the Father’s hand (v.29). The world may shake, the enemy may roar, but you are secure. As A.W. Tozer said, “The man who walks with God will always reach his destination.”

May the Lord tune your heart to recognize His voice above the noise, to walk in joyful obedience, and to rest in the strong, unchanging grip of the Shepherd who knows your name.