It Starts Small

I was thinking about my goats the other day. I had dropped my kids at the airport and on my way back I took the country roads. I thought of each of them and a thought came to mind. They each had a name. There was Brownie that we nicknamed Duck. She looked like she had a perfect outline of a flying duck on her side. SHe responded to the name Brownie and Lil Duckie. Yes, I had a goat name Duck. Those goats all knew their names. When I walked in the pen I could call their names and they would know I was talking to them individually. Because they knew that means them, when I called their name, they came to me. They would follow me around because they knew I was there to take care of them. Then…. the Holy Spirit in His amazing ways reminded me of these scriptures.

¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep John 10:14-15

Have you ever noticed in your journey satan never addresses you by name, but always addresses you by your sin. He comes and says hey you’re a drunk and will always be one. Hey, that pain and suffering can be cured by just taking a few shots. Hey you, you are worthless, if you want to matter lie. Think about how he tempts you and tries to lead you astray. Has satan ever called you by your actual name?

⁵ They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.” John 10:5

When satan or his demons come to oppress, is that voice familiar or does it cause you concern? His voice can be familiar but is like the voice of the Holy Spirit? The voice of evil should make us want to scatter and run. It should be like nails on a chalkboard in our mind and ears.

Jesus, knows our name. That day, when he called you to receive Him, he used your name. He never addressed you by your sin, shame or guilt. The Spirit will convict us and say hey Susan, I love you, and this lie you told, it separates you from your Heavenly Father and make Him sad because He desires to be in a relationship with you.

³ The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. John 10:3-4

Just like my little goat herd knew my voice, we know the voice of our Good Shepherd. We need to keep our eyes on Him. Walk very closely with Him. As we look up to Him we need to focus our ears and tune our ears on hearing Him. You can only hear Him by walking closely to Him. We are deaf, blind, and dumb, just like sheep. Only by fixing your blind eyes upon Him can we see. Only by straining our ears to hear his voice can we hear Him. Only by walking closely with Him can we receive a way through life.

Are you deaf today?
Are you blind today?
Are you lost?

Call out to your Good Shepherd. He is right there waiting for you. Hear His voice and fix your eyes upon Him.

I used to get irritated when my goats would walk under my steps. I was afraid I would hurt them. Lil Duck in particular was masterful at it. Maybe she just wanted to be so close to me because she knew I was safe. She was smaller than the others and easy to hold. I would scoop her up and her whole self would just melt. Many times I would sit in the pen with her. Holding her close. She would eventually fall asleep. She trusted me enough she would fall asleep in my arms. Animals will only become vulnerable when they know they are protected.

Jesus wants us to become vulnerable because we trust in Him to lead us. To protect us. To never leave us. To provide all we need.