If You Have an Ear. . .

In 1989, the song In the Living Years captured the sorrow of losing the chance to speak to one’s father after he had passed. One line strikes deeply: “You can listen as well as you can hear.” How many of us would give anything for just one more conversation with a parent?

Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). As followers of Christ, we have the privilege of hearing the voice of the Good Shepherd. God still speaks—through His Word, which is alive, and through His Spirit, who draws us into deeper fellowship with Christ.

But the depth of that relationship depends on how closely we walk with Him. Some follow at a distance. They know Jesus is there, but they remain far enough away that His voice becomes faint. To truly hear what He is saying, we must close the gap. Intimacy with Christ is where His words become clear, where His love becomes personal, and where His direction becomes unmistakable.

Are you hearing from God’s Word? That is good. But are you listening with a heart that longs to draw near? Are you not only catching His commandments but also comprehending His heart?

Don’t just hear Him—listen. Listen with desire, with surrender, with love. The Shepherd is calling. Draw close, and let His voice lead you.

With Gratitude, Pastor Jesse