BBD 01.19.09 The Stranger's Voice
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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The Burning Bush Devotional
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01.19.09
The Stranger's Voice
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the
door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he
who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the door keeper
opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and
leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them;
and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means
follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of
strangers. - John 10:1-5.
Following the wrong voice can cause you much trouble and pain as one little
boy found out in Auburn, California. The little boy had gone to a dental
complex with his two teenage sisters, and they left him in a play area for
children. While they were gone the little boy's name was called, and he
followed. They put him into a dental chair, injected him with Novocain,
X-rayed him and removed two front teeth. It was the wrong boy! There were
two other boys with the same name in the play area. The family filed a
lawsuit in Placer County Superior Court.
Adam and Eve had a somewhat similar experience listening to the voice of a
snake with legs. It looks like there would have been a clue there somewhere?
Much pain and heartache has followed for all of us because of their choosing
to follow the wrong voice. Jesus made the right choice (Matthew 4) when he
rejected the voice of the devil and all of his temptations. But the voice of
the stranger is often very attractive. The fruit of the tree appeared good
to eat to Adam and Eve. The devil offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world. I
wonder whether the little boy was tempted with a small toy like some
dentists have in their office?
During one Christmas season, I heard there was a garbage strike that
affected an affluent neighborhood. Bags of garbage were piling up in the
alleys and along the curbs. It was becoming ugly with the smell of it all
but one man found a way to have his garbage removed. He wrapped his garbage
up in Christmas wrapping paper and left it on his front porch at night. In
the morning thieves would always have it removed. The voice of the stranger
wraps his words in the most tempting things. But if you look closely you
will see what the stranger is offering is still just garbage.
The voice of the stranger is the voice of the robber and the thief. As Jesus
says, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy
(John 10:10a)." The spiritual thief comes to rob you of life, to rob you of
your best life and to replace it with garbage. Jesus instead comes to give
you life; and not just any kind of life, He comes to give you the abundant
life, the best life.
Listen very closely before following the voice calling your name. Is the one
calling a stranger, robber, and thief or is it the voice of the Good
Shepherd, the Prince of Life (Acts 3:15)?
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