what are you waiting for?

1 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. John 10:1-5

"What are you waiting for, Miss?” The question startled me and snapped me out of my daydreams. Then, as I looked around and realized I was the only one in the Panera Bread, the question seemed a bit ridiculous. Nonetheless I smiled and replied, “a Frontega Chicken.” I watched the manager dutifully check my order. Then my mind went back to his question. What am I waiting for? Thoughts began to rise from the depths of my soul, awakening me to ponder life's journey and how Jesus guides us.

In John 10 we read about Jesus' parable of the Good Shepherd. The gatekeeper calls the sheep by name and he opens the gate for them. The sheep listen to him, for they know his voice. They don't follow the one who seeks to kill, steal, and destroy. In fact, they run away from him because they don't recognize his voice. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and the Gatekeeper. He opens the gate to life and leads the way. We come to know his voice and follow him.

Listening and learning to follow involves challenge, mystery, and trust. Challenge: the stranger is out to steal, kill, and destroy. Mystery: we don't know where the path will lead tomorrow. Trust: we are confident that Jesus is going before us and knows what is best for us.

He calls us and we follow. It's so simple and yet so profound. May we follow him with a passion that reveals our confidence in him and our desire to submit to his will.

What should we be waiting for? The voice of our Master. “When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice” (John 10:4). Where he leads us, by his loving voice, we must follow. —Sonya Williams

seeking: Jesus, what have I heard your voice telling me today? How will I respond?

responding: Have I lost the excitement of my first love in my journey with Jesus? • What do I hear him saying to me today?

Jesus, I thank you for your calming, leading, loving voice. Help me to stop listening to the world and its words that only lead me astray. I want to follow you alone.

following: Jesus leads the way to life.

our journey