And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Matthew. 2:12

In a year of great change the natural response is to resist, but what if God asks us to change? Moving to Dudley meant for me, handing to others the role of church Leader, that I felt was my calling. What I experienced was confusion, doubt and grief. He knows me well enough to understand that I don’t embrace change easily, so He altered our circumstances to cause me to make the changes that were needed.

Hearing God’s voice and obeying His voice are two quite different things and obedience always seems to be the hardest to do, but hearing and recognising God’s voice is the first step. Have you learned the sound of His voice and if so do you find it easy to obey?

The Magi were the scientists of their day and a great deal of their world-view included the supernatural and they recognised God’s voice even in the unprecedented circumstances they found themselves in. Are we tuned to God’s voice? Do we hesitate to obey, especially if He says to go against the established order of things? As guest dignitaries in a foreign land, the Wise Men were being asked to go against Royal Protocol, to disobey the King.

The question I ask myself this Christmas is, “Is God’s voice more real to me than the multitudes of voices and opinions?”

Jesus said “My sheep know my voice” so let’s ask Him to teach us the sound of His voice at this time of celebration and to give us the strength to obey Him.

A prayer:

Father God we rejoice at the celebration of Jesus’ birth and hear the message of “Peace on Earth and goodwill to all”. Teach us to listen, to hear and to obey the sound of His voice in the coming weeks and months. In Jesus’ name we ask.  Amen.

Wrriten by Steve Scotson.