May 1st, 2026
I don’t believe there is anything more important in life than knowing the voice of God.
It is only His voice that brings clarity, peace, love, life and guidance, and all of us are created to hear His voice!
John 10:10 says,
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
The question is: what will you do when you hear the voice of God? Every word that God speaks carries a choice with it—an opportunity to respond or not.
This week, I was thinking about the fact that sometimes what God says is not exactly what we want to hear. How we respond in those moments will determine the course of our lives!
We see contrasted responses to the call of Jesus in two stories found in the book of Luke.
The first is the call of His first disciples.
Luke 5:1-11 says,
‘… when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at Your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.’
Simon Peter, James, and John left everything they had to follow Jesus when they recognized Him and heard the call. Luke 18:18-30 tells the story of an invitation that was extended to another man. It says,
‘A ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But He said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” And He said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”’
The rich young man must have felt something missing in his life. He’d kept God’s commandments since he was young. He was successful by the world’s standards. However, he still came to Jesus saying, “What must I do?” I don’t know the answer he was hoping for, but Jesus’ response was not it.
He walked away sad, resigned to living with the emptiness he felt. He chose not to answer the call. Peter chose that moment to remind Jesus what they’d left behind to follow Him and Jesus’ response is so interesting. He encourages His disciples with the truth that whatever you’ve left behind, you will receive back in greater measure, now and in heaven. The rich, young ruler thought he would be losing to sell his earthly riches and follow Jesus, but he would have gained so much more—naturally and spiritually!
It’s a sad truth, but many people hear the voice of God and say no. The rich young ruler walked away because his heart was in his riches.
Matthew 6:21 says,
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
However, God promises to provide for every earthly need if we will follow Him!
Matthew 6:33 says,
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
If there is a struggle in your heart to answer the call of God because you feel the pull of something else, the answer is simple. Learn to treasure God’s word until your heart is fully His!
Psalm 119:10-11 says,
“I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”
As we discussed a few weeks ago, the word “hidden” is not the best translation. It really means to “treasure.” When you begin to treasure His Word, your heart will be sanctified! That’s why Jesus said, “where your treasure is, so also is your heart!”
If you search your heart, what do you find there? Is His Word hidden deeply in every area of your heart? Or do you find that you’ve treasured sin, your comfort, or even good things above God? If you have treasured anything above His Word, that thing will have your heart.
God doesn’t ask us all to sell everything we have, but He asks us all to surrender what we treasure so He alone has our hearts. In that one young man’s case, His riches had His heart, and Jesus asked for his wealth out of compassion. Jesus gave an invitation that would have set the young man free if he had chosen to respond!
We want to encourage you with this truth, this week. It’s good news! God only asks you to give things up for your good! It is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom (Luke 12:31). If we delight in Him, He will give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4). God doesn’t ask for things from us except to give that which is better. Life, joy, peace, as well earthly provision and abundance, are found in answering the call of God!
It is only His voice that brings clarity, peace, love, life and guidance, and all of us are created to hear His voice!
John 10:10 says,
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
The question is: what will you do when you hear the voice of God? Every word that God speaks carries a choice with it—an opportunity to respond or not.
This week, I was thinking about the fact that sometimes what God says is not exactly what we want to hear. How we respond in those moments will determine the course of our lives!
We see contrasted responses to the call of Jesus in two stories found in the book of Luke.
The first is the call of His first disciples.
Luke 5:1-11 says,
‘… when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at Your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.’
Simon Peter, James, and John left everything they had to follow Jesus when they recognized Him and heard the call. Luke 18:18-30 tells the story of an invitation that was extended to another man. It says,
‘A ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But He said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” And He said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”’
The rich young man must have felt something missing in his life. He’d kept God’s commandments since he was young. He was successful by the world’s standards. However, he still came to Jesus saying, “What must I do?” I don’t know the answer he was hoping for, but Jesus’ response was not it.
He walked away sad, resigned to living with the emptiness he felt. He chose not to answer the call. Peter chose that moment to remind Jesus what they’d left behind to follow Him and Jesus’ response is so interesting. He encourages His disciples with the truth that whatever you’ve left behind, you will receive back in greater measure, now and in heaven. The rich, young ruler thought he would be losing to sell his earthly riches and follow Jesus, but he would have gained so much more—naturally and spiritually!
It’s a sad truth, but many people hear the voice of God and say no. The rich young ruler walked away because his heart was in his riches.
Matthew 6:21 says,
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
However, God promises to provide for every earthly need if we will follow Him!
Matthew 6:33 says,
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
If there is a struggle in your heart to answer the call of God because you feel the pull of something else, the answer is simple. Learn to treasure God’s word until your heart is fully His!
Psalm 119:10-11 says,
“I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”
As we discussed a few weeks ago, the word “hidden” is not the best translation. It really means to “treasure.” When you begin to treasure His Word, your heart will be sanctified! That’s why Jesus said, “where your treasure is, so also is your heart!”
If you search your heart, what do you find there? Is His Word hidden deeply in every area of your heart? Or do you find that you’ve treasured sin, your comfort, or even good things above God? If you have treasured anything above His Word, that thing will have your heart.
God doesn’t ask us all to sell everything we have, but He asks us all to surrender what we treasure so He alone has our hearts. In that one young man’s case, His riches had His heart, and Jesus asked for his wealth out of compassion. Jesus gave an invitation that would have set the young man free if he had chosen to respond!
We want to encourage you with this truth, this week. It’s good news! God only asks you to give things up for your good! It is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom (Luke 12:31). If we delight in Him, He will give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4). God doesn’t ask for things from us except to give that which is better. Life, joy, peace, as well earthly provision and abundance, are found in answering the call of God!
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