“HIS VOICE”

Me-Maw Thoughts
Number 395
September 25, 2018///

I want you to go with me this morning to the greatest nation on earth.

The land of IMAGINATION.

Let us picture a vacant lot in the middle of a group of middle-class houses and ten or twelve 8 to 10 years old’s playing a game of softball. They are totally into the game and are paying no attention to anything else.

Then through the air comes a voice calling from the front porch of one of the houses: Brettttttttttttt!. The game continues with excitement except for one young man; Brett!!

His head looks around, he waves to the others and takes off toward home. Why? Because he recognized his name and the voice that called it. It did not move the other boys and girls because it was not their name and it was not called out by a voice of the one they belonged to.

Let us now leave the land of Imagination and Travel to the time of the real and true resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We find in John 20: 11-16 the story of Mary Magdalene as she wept out side the empty tomb. Turning from the tomb she saw someone she did not recognize but thought was the gardener. She asked him to tell her if he knew where Jesus body was and then she heard it……….MARY!!!!

At that moment she realized who she supposed to the be the gardener was the Risen Christ. She knew His voice and she knew Him when He called her by name.

John 20:16 (KJV)
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

Mary was looking and searching for a dead body and Jesus showed her the very alive Savior of the World. Mary was not expecting to see a living Jesus so did not even recognize Him. But she knew her name and she was looking for Him!

May I tell you that Jesus may not appear the way we think He is going to. May I tell you that we may be looking to see the unmoving Christ and He does not seem to be around. But may I shout to you that if you seek Him and Listen He will…

CALL YOUR NAME.

If you know Him and seek Him, you will recognize His Voice. If you have been changed from the inside out as Mary had, you will hear Him when He Speaks.

John 10:27-28 (KJV)
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

We sometimes have such preconceived ideas of how Jesus will appear to us and how things in life or in worship or in church services should be. Let us understand that all we need to do is listen for that voice that speaks our name and tells us what to do.

Even though it came in an unexpected Blessing, Mary knew His voice and she obeyed His instruction.

John 20:17-18 (KJV)
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

Notice that Mary heard, she listened, she obeyed and spread the truth that Jesus Lives!!!!

Let us listen, Hear that awesome voice, obey, and spread the Truth that Jesus Lives and because He Lives we can Live Also!!

John 14:19 (KJV)
Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
_____________________________
Father God, thank you that I belong to you and I hear your voice. May each of us realize if we will listen you will speak. Thank you that you know each of our names and all that is going on in our lives and in our hearts. Guide us with your loving voice that we can know and recognize. Touch every person reading this with the desire to seek and to listen and to obey. In the name of the Savior of the world Jesus Christ I pray.

Love, MeMaw