Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope

Welcome to Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Joni has a fun story for you that I know you're going to love.

Joni Eareckson Tada: Every day I start off my morning with coffee, range of motion exercises, prayer, and a little music. I call out to my Amazon Echo, "Hey, play music," and with just the sound of my voice, it listens to my command and begins playing a tune. And oh, how uplifting it is to hear the soft piano keys of Jim Brickman or the truth-filled lyrics of a classic hymn.

This little hands-free gadget, this electronic device has been a true gem in my home. I can ask it to give me the weather for the day, I can ask for the headlines, I can ask it a question about sports. It really knows my voice. And when I think of knowing someone's voice, it always brings to mind John chapter 10, verse 27, where Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice."

What do sheep need to hear God's voice? Well, you have to consider what shepherding was like back in ancient times. In many modern-day countries, sheep are kept in fenced, protected areas where they graze on pastures. But in ancient Israel, sheep were not confined to a certain space. Grass was difficult to grow in Israel's arid soil, so shepherds would often have to open the pens and walk long distances to find green pastures, and their sheep would have to follow them.

If the sheep did not know who their shepherd was or did not recognize his voice, they would risk getting lost or starving or being eaten by a wolf. For a sheep, knowing his shepherd was a matter of life and death. And it's a matter of life and death for us, too. Just look at what Jesus says in John chapter 10.

There, the Lord says, referring to himself, "He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. He goes ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."

Jesus knows that if we do not follow him, we will starve spiritually. We will become lost spiritually, and we will quickly be devoured by the world, the flesh, and the devil. Oh, that you and I as Christians were as instant in obedience as my Amazon Echo. If only we were as discerning in voice recognition as Siri on my iPhone.

How is it that our electronic devices are so quick to listen, are so instant in their response, and we are not? If only we were as quick to act upon the commands of our Lord and Savior. But instead, we toy with sin, we turn a deaf ear, and before we know it, we're no longer walking in the steps of our Good Shepherd. And that is a risky place to be.

I find myself constantly praying nowadays, and maybe you do, too. I pray as the Psalmist did in Psalm 119: "Lord, I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, would you?" Yes, Jesus, please come and find me. I want to listen to and obey the voice of you, my Good Shepherd. I don't want to be slow; I do not want to be a stubborn sheep.

Guest (Male): And friend, I tell you what, the best way to sharpen your hearing is to listen to the words of Jesus. Some of his best words are in the Beatitudes, and you'll find the Beatitudes in Matthew chapter five in Christ's Sermon on the Mount. Make some time to read it today, and as you read it, ask the Holy Spirit to help you listen—really listen—to the voice of your Good Shepherd.

And hey, if you need even more inspiration, just go to joniradio.org where you'll find a treasure trove of encouragement from our friend Joni.