Picturing Theology, Revised Edition

192 | Picturing Theology, Revised Edition

2. John 5:46-47 (ESV) – If you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. [47] But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words? B. Set your heart to obey 1. Usually, the problem is NOT with our hearing! a. Psalm 119:10 (ESV) – With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! b. The fundamental question relating to guidance is not whether I will be able to hear God speak but whether I intend to obey what he says. 2. God is a competent, clear-speaking guide. a. John 10:2-5, 27 (ESV) – But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. [3] To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. [4] When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. [5] A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. . . . [27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. b. The metaphors of Scripture describe a God who will be heard! (1) The images given by God to describe his leadership are very helpful. God is a king, a parent, a shepherd. The biblical question is seldom, “How do we hear?” Jesus says quite confidently that his sheep know his voice. Like all kings or parents or shepherds, God has no difficulty communicating to us in ways that we will understand. (2) How many of us, for example, find that the IRS has difficulty communicating with us that we need to pay taxes? How many of us just forget about April 15th and never think about it again once it is passed? (3) How many of you as kids sat around and agonized whether you were going to be able to recognize your parent’s voice. What initiative did you take as a child to make sure you could hear and understand your parents?