In John 10:27, Jesus says: ‘“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”’ This message is all about encouraging us to slow down to hear from God.
The primary mark of discipleship, according to Jesus in this passage, is listening—not preaching, not attending church, and not going on mission trips. First and foremost, followers of Jesus are marked out by the way they listen and obey. And this doesn’t just mean knowing lots of Bible verses because the root Greek word used here for "listen" is akoustikos (ἀκουστικός) from which we get the word acoustic. Jesus is saying that his true followers are those who recognize the acoustics, the nuance, and the intimate, personal tone of his voice.
One of the oldest, simplest, and most powerful tools for hearing God’s voice in and through the Bible is through the ancient practices of reading, meditating, prayer, and contemplation.
John 10:17 NIV
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
Psalm 46:10a NLT
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
Luke 5:16 NIV
16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Be still and you will know
