March 15, 2022

The Year of our Lord, Jesus Christ

John 10:5

And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

This is the fallacy of the strangers. God’s true sheep will not follow them. No matter how convincing, how forceful, how polished, how pleasing to the eye or the ear, God’s sheep will not follow the voice of strangers. The strangers become disturbed, they may get angry, they may get impatient, they may grow troubled, but they will never convince God’s sheep of their strange doctrines, philosophies, and beliefs.

Why? Because God’s sheep hear God’s voice through the power of the Holy Spirit’s ministry to them. They know the difference between the truth of God’s Word and the strange words spoken by the false shepherds. Jesus says conclusively without any fear of misunderstanding, misinterpretation, or miscalculation that His sheep will know and follow His voice.

His voice is heard through reading the Scriptures, through the voice of preachers, through psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, and in the still small voice in the soul. When His sheep hear the hireling speaking strange sounds, they will refuse to follow. This is the mark of a true sheep and their true pastor. The sheep hear his voice and follow, no need to drive the sheep like a cowboy would cattle, no need to strongarm the sheep like a debt collector, no need to manipulate the sheep like a charlatan, they speak the truth of God and the sheep naturally follow.

After all, Jesus said: And a stranger will they not follow.

Until next time,

William T. Howe, Ph.D.