“When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” (John 10:4,5)
Have you noticed that banks and other financial institutions all have similar advice as they try to help customers avoid becoming victims of internet crime? They say things like: We will never ask for your password; You will never receive an email from us asking for your account number; Don’t click on a link in a suspicious email. They do this because thieves perpetrating internet crime are good at disguising themselves as your actual bank. But even so, banks believe that it is possible to distinguish between a message from a thief and a message from them. They believe that we, the consumers, can be taught to “know the voice” of the real bank and consequently avoid the traps of the scammers.
The same struggle has been going on for years in the spiritual world. The apostle Paul warns the church in Corinth that Satan masquerades as an angel of light and that his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:14,15). If Satan is getting his message out through those who are apparently servants of righteousness, it must be difficult to distinguish between God’s message and Satan’s. It can be – but Jesus assures us that his people will know his voice (John 10:4).
If the church had a website that warned you against fraudsters, it might include advice like this: We will never promise you an easy life; We will never emphasize one’s personal pleasure over sacrifice for the good of others; If you receive an email from us promising wealth, don’t click on the link. I am sure you can come up with many more.
Jesus lived an austere life of sacrifice, which ultimately led to death. He is the one who told us that the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction. “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life…” (Matthew 7:13,14). We know the life of Jesus and the example he set for us. His voice is consistent with the life he lived. Knowing the voice of the Good Shepherd has eternal benefit. Spending time in the Word, in prayer, and in fellowship with other believers will sharpen our sensitivity to his voice and our ability to recognize the traps of the devil.
In August donations to missionary support funds covered 47.8 percent of all support expenses; $39,443 was used from our General Fund to supplement missionary allowances, while $47,184 was used from our Estate Fund to supplement benefit expenses for the month.
Thank you for your ongoing support!