Advent day 1- My Sheep Hear My Voice

Advent means coming, and the theme of advent is waiting.  While it is a bit artificial to wait again on the Christ who has come, it is also true that we should remember, re-live, and re-open our hearts to the coming Christ.  There is a sense in which waiting and listening are similar.  When we wait in the doctor’s office for our name to be called we are listening while we wait.  The story of the Ten bridesmaids waiting is also a story of their listening for the groom to show up.  Listening for relatives’ car doors to slam, or a phone call to say they are almost there is similar.

There are several words translated as “Hear” of “Listen”.  In Hebrew “Anah” means to respond or be aware of;  “Shamah” means to listen with intelligence or consider.  There are 7 Greek verbs for “Hear” or “listen.” The most common is “akouo” (perceiving a sound)- from which we get our word “acoustic” but other words are “eisakouo” (heed); “epakouo” (listen with favor). 

The theme this year is “Listening to the Coming or Do You Hear What I Hear?”  I remember the movie, “The Polar Express” where the boy who believes can hear the bells but adults and others who didn’t believe could not hear them.  There is something to this idea.  There are those who have ears but they cannot hear the frequency of faith.  In many ways Advent is about being able to see God’s hand at work and having eyes of wonder and gratitude looking at His Word and the world He made.

THEME: LISTENING TO THE COMING

11/27- John 10:27- “My sheep hear my voice.”  Jesus is the great shepherd.  He leads us beside the still waters and onto green pastures. He restores our soul.  But He also calls to us.  He calls to us to gather with the fold of other sheep.  He calls to us to follow Him and not go astray.  He calls to us to listen to His voice above the voices of the other sheep or the howls of the wolves.  Are you able to not only hear His voice, but focus on it and heed the voice?   He comes to us so that we are not like sheep without a shepherd.  He comes to give us purpose, direction in life.  He comes to call us beyond focusing on the stuff (the grass for the sheep).  

Prayer: Lord, Give me ears to hear your voice.  Let me trust in you, the Great Shepherd this advent.