I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Ephesians 1:17-19
It was just an ordinary Tuesday in my local supermarket. List in hand I made my way to the back of the store for the orange juice and bananas when I heard a familiar voice. Immediately, I knew the voice that was making the announcement over the store’s intercom system even though it had been almost 25 years since I had first come to recognize its uniqueness and distinction. A light suddenly went on in my head and many pieces of a puzzle came together instantaneously.
Rewind a few months to the same supermarket when a nice man took my groceries out to my car for me. We had a short but pleasant conversation that centered on the university I had gone to and now proudly display on my license plate and rear window. We talked about what year we graduated, what we studied, the current status of the football team and the store employee told me he had played in the university’s marching band. I left the parking lot thinking it a neat coincidence.
But on that Tuesday, when I heard his voice over the intercom, my eyes were opened and my memory became clear as day. I turned my buggy around and headed for customer service to make the connection. Sure enough as I got to the counter, I recognized Jay as a fellow student who attended the same campus ministry I did in college. He was the one who had taken my groceries out for me months before and I had not recognized him. A lot can change over 25 years. But it was his voice that caused the epiphany.
I can’t help but think of the disciples on the Road to Emmaus who encountered Jesus, but were kept from recognizing Him until their eyes were opened by Him. And Mary at the tomb when she saw Jesus but did not recognize Him until she heard Him say her name. When she recognized His voice, she turned toward Him and squealed, “Teacher.” (The Bible doesn’t say she squealed, but God used men to write the Bible. They just chose to leave that part out. I can’t imagine Mary not squealing when she saw Jesus, her Savior, teacher and friend who had been dead but was clearly alive!)
My heart’s prayer has always been to know my Shepherd’s voice so intimately that when He calls my name I squeal with excitement and delight as Mary did. The word says that His sheep follow Him because they know His voice. Jesus’ voice is strong, unique and distinct. He who spoke the world into existence with a word, still speaks to us today through His Word, through His still small voice, and through His Holy Spirit. May He give us eyes to see and ears to hear.
Paula Nelson