A Desire for Wisdom

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
—John 10:27

Are you seeking God’s guidance in a specific area of your life? Look at Jesus’ words in John 10:27: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” There are three things Jesus is promising us in that short verse.

First, Jesus says, God’s voice is audible. God has a voice and He is speaking. As Francis Schaeffer said, “He is there and He is not silent. We can hear God’s voice.”

Second, Jesus says, God’s voice is discernible. That is, you can actually distinguish God’s voice. Of course, Jesus says that a condition for hearing from God is belonging to God. The only people who hear from God are those who belong to God through Jesus Christ—those who are truly His sheep.

Third, Jesus says, God’s voice is directional. It is leading us someplace. When God speaks to us, He does so more than just to give us courage and comfort to face our present situation. He promises guidance to those who trust in Him.

Now if we want to hear from God, we must have a desire to obey the will of God. We cannot say, “God, show me Your will and then I will decide whether or not I want to obey it.” God doesn’t work that way. He only reveals His will to those who truly want to obey His will. In John 6:38, Jesus said, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” Jesus said the consuming passion of His life was to do the will of God and to accomplish His work (John 4:34). Is that true of you? Is your overriding passion in life to obey God’s will? When you roll out of bed in the morning, is your first thought, How would God have me spend my time today? Or when you face a difficult decision, is the first thing you ask yourself, What would God have me do in this situation?

I think most believers live as practical atheists. We formulate our plans and spend our resources as if there were no God. We do what we want to do. We solve our dilemmas without any thought of God whatsoever. But there is a God in heaven and He has a plan for your life. He promises to reveal that plan to those who truly want to know it.

Let me give you a great illustration from the Old Testament. In 1 Kings 3 we read of the beginning of Solomon’s reign over Israel. Solomon was the son of David, so he had some big shoes to fill. He was only 19 when he became king. Realizing the challenge before him, Solomon went to a little village and met with God. And notice what happened there: “The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, ‘Ask what you wish Me to give you’” (v. 5). Now think about this. If God came to most nineteen-year-old boys and said, “Ask whatever you want and I’ll give it to you”—what would teenage boys ask for? The latest model chariot? The hottest girlfriend in Israel? That’s what most would ask for. Not Solomon. He said, “Give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil” (v. 9). That word “understanding” in Hebrew means a “hearing” heart. Solomon said, “God, more than anything, I want to be able to hear from You. I want to know Your will. I need Your direction because this task is too big for me.” When Solomon asked for wisdom, it was pleasing in the sight of God. Not only did God grant Solomon wisdom, but He also gave him more chariots and girlfriends than he knew what to do with.

The point is, God answers the prayers of those who ask for wisdom in life. And the same is true with us. God is not trying to withhold His direction. He will reveal His will to us if we truly have the desire to obey Him.

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “Discovering God’s Will” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2008.
Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.