GOD’S VOICE FOR VICTORIOUS LIVING
John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me”
Matthew 4:4 “But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
Isaiah 30:21 “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.”
Focus: God’s Word gives us power and guidance to live victorious lives.
God lovingly refers to His children as sheep. Indeed, it is a sobering reminder of our helplessness and constant need of His care. Our first verse of focus tells us that God knows us. He knew us before we even came into being. The Bible says that God saw us before we came into existence; when as yet we had no body parts and were not formed (Psalm 139:16-17). This God who saw us and knows us, also knows the quality of life He wants us to have. He has therefore given us the ability to hear and follow His Voice so that we can receive power and guidance to live the more abundant life which He promised in His Word (John 10:10).
Our second verse of focus gives us the understanding that we hear God’s Voice when we study His Word. Even as food is vital to the body, God’s Word is even more vital to the soul. Notice carefully that God wants us to live by EVERY WORD. There is no room for selection or rejection; God expects total obedience to ALL His Revelations at ALL times. We are often told that we should eat a balanced diet. Fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains, provide us with proteins, minerals, and vitamins to nourish the body, but much more is needed to live a balanced life before God. It would be a good thing indeed, if we all adopted the principle of brother Job in the old Testament. He gave God’s Word first place in his life. Job esteemed the Words of God’s Mouth more than his necessary food (Job 23:12).
When we prayerfully study God’s Word, He will feed us with the Fruit of the Spirit. Our souls will be empowered and nourished with; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). The Holy Spirit works in us to produce these qualities in our lives, as we interact with each other; and God is well pleased. Jesus says He is the 'Bread of life.' As we read about Him, when He lived on this earth as a Man, we 'feed' our minds on the things He said and did,and we are admonished to follow His example. His greatest delight was to please His Heavenly Father in everything He said and did (John 8:28-29). He went about doing good to all (Acts 10:38). He made little children happy by spending time with them. At the seaside, He could be found teaching the people about God's Love for them and His Will for their lives. He worshipped on the Sabbath Day. (Luke 5:3, 4:16)
In our final verse of focus, God has faithfully promised that we will hear and receive guidance and encouragement from Him, as we go about our daily lives. He will cause us to hear His Word in our minds just when we need it; so that we can make the right choices, and go in the right direction. When we are tempted, He will cause us to hear His Word, so that we can resist and escape from the enemy’s deception. If we fail to heed His Voice, and commit sin, He will cause us to hear those precious Words, “I forgive you” (1 John 1:9). In times of discouragement and grief, we will hear His Voice saying, “I Love you, I am with you; this season of sorrow shall pass.” Let us therefore, make the study of God’s Word a top priority in our lives, as we seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness, through cherishing our daily time of fellowship with Him.