My Sheep Hear My Voice

God, Your Word is so dope — how one verse can give so much detail.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. — John 10:27 (KJV)

This scripture is so profound to me. When I read it, it literally pricked my heart instantly, so I went to work looking into it. It translates from the Greek as: 

My sheep hear (akouo) my voice, and I (ginosko) know them, and they follow Me (akoloutheo).

My sheep hear, listen, and respond to My voice.

I have experiential knowledge with them and they with Me — not just an intellectual awareness.

And they walk the same road with Me, in the same direction.

If we truly consider ourselves the sheep of God, and He our Shepherd, there are certain characteristics that define us.

• That we hear and respond to His voice. 

• That we have an intimacy with Him.

The word ginosko is also used in the scripture when the Bible talks about how Joseph did not know/have intimacy with (ginosko) Mary. In John 10:27 it says that His sheep are ginosko / intimate with Him. Also, that they walk the same road as Him.

So, question — if you hear His voice but don’t respond to it… if you know of Him or study Him but don’t have experience with Him, and walk your own road instead of walking the path Christ is leading — are we truly His sheep?

If you are lacking intimacy with Christ, He can be found in your consistency. Keep showing up. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. He will answer.

Cast down your own will, pick up the Cross He has for you to carry, and walk with Him — and after Him.

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Matthew 7:7–8 (KJV) Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Luke 11:9–10 (KJV) And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Matthew 1:19–25 (KJV) Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily: But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called His name JESUS.