A few years back I watched a video featuring mothers and their children. There were several sets of mothers sitting on chairs. Opposite them were children whose eyes had been covered with a blind fold. The object of the exercise was to illustrate the power of the mother’s voice. In every case, when the mother spoke, the child was able to locate their own mother.
Jesus illustrates the power of voice in a story he relays about sheep. He says that sheep don’t follow a stranger, but rather the shepherd who knows them by name. They know his voice. Because they know his voice, they will follow.
These ideas came together for me as I was reading about John the Baptist’s declaration of Jesus as the Lamb of God. When he saw Jesus coming he declared:
“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, “After me comes a Man who is preferred before me for He was before me.”
John then tells us that he didn’t know who Jesus was at first. There was however a voice, a voice that he recognized. The voice that called him in the first place, the voice that called him to baptize with water, came again. This time the voice prepared him for an event. It told him that the Spirit would come like a dove. It would land and rest on one that he would be baptizing. The voice prepared him to know the One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. John tells us that he knew the voice. Therefore he could say with confidence
“This is the Son of God.”
God’s children know His voice. It is the voice that calls over life’s deafening noise and says:
“Come unto me and I will give you rest.” or
“I have loved you with an everlasting love.” or
“Fear not for I am with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
It has been many years since I have heard the sweet sound of my mother’s voice. I am however grateful that she taught me to recognize the voice of my Heavenly Father. He speaks into my moments his love for me and His everlasting presence,
Grace and peace to you!
