One of the most endearing images of my childhood, is a
really old fashioned painting my grandparents had adorning their living room
wall. This painting wasn't particularly good and to be quite honest I found it
a bit unnerving, but also fascinating. It was of a perfect looking Christ,
cuddling a small, insecure lamb in his arms. It was almost too perfect to be true. Too
Victorian in its essence. But although it was very religious it contained amazing
truth. That Jesus Christ is our shepherd and we are his sheep and just as sheep
respond to the voice of the Shepherd, we can hear and recognize the voice of
Christ.
We are safe and secure held tight in the embrace of God,
because Christ lives and dwells inside of us. He is not distant, he is not far
away, and he is ever present with us every minute of every day.
His voice is a voice of love, a whisper of reassurance, a
whisper of hope, a confirmation that we are righteous in God. Not the voice
of an angry headmaster, because he has nothing to be angry about. All his anger
and wrath was poured out on to Christ, who died on our place. His voice is the
sound of many waters, the fragrance of heaven, the voice of a lover rushing to
meet his bride. With words of adoration, words of love, words of passion, words
of desire, words of adventure, words of hope.
Just stop and enjoy the voice of Him who died so that you
could live in the fullness of God’s grace.
