Too Many Voices! – May 1, 2026
Read: John 10:1-10
[Jesus said] “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. John 10:1-4
Too Many Voices!
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Imagine you are in a grocery store, and you are looking for one thing, peanut butter. Your favorite kind! But you can’t find it anywhere. You walk up and down the aisles . . . bread . . . cereal . . . cookies . . . but no peanut butter. Finally, you decide to go up to the checkout to see if any of the workers can help you. As soon as you ask where the peanut butter is, everyone starts talking at once: “Try aisle 3!” “No, aisle 7!” “It’s by the jelly!” “I saw it by the snacks!”
Now you don’t know who to listen to! It’s so hard to figure out what they’re saying because they’re all talking at once. Then you see the manager, finally someone who really knows the store. If you just listen to what she says, you know you’ll find the peanut butter.
During our lives here on earth, there are lots of voices telling us where to find happiness and our salvation. They point us in all kinds of directions:
- We may be pointed in the direction of money, because if we have enough, money will keep you safe and happy. Or,
- We may be encouraged to be popular and liked, because that way we will never be alone. Or,
- We may be tempted to want to be famous, because famous people are remembered and never forgotten.
But those voices are like all the other people in the store guessing where the peanut butter is. There is only one voice that can tell us the way to salvation. That voice is our Shepherd, Jesus. We hear his voice in the Word of God. He is the only true way to salvation, and when we know his voice, we will run away from every other voice trying to lead us astray. Jesus says, “Listen to me. Follow me. I know the way.” We trust that our Savior will guide us to a life lived to the fullest. He calls us each by name and leads us in the way we should go.
So when lots of voices are shouting in your ears, listen to one voice—Jesus. He always knows the way.
Prayer:
Good Shepherd, sometimes it is hard for me to listen only to you. Other things in my life can sound really good! Help me to listen to your voice, because I know you want to lead me to eternal life with you. Amen.
The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.
Questions for Younger Children
- Have you ever looked for something at the grocery store? What was it? Did you find it?
- Why is it important to listen to Jesus’ voice instead of other voices?
Questions for Elementary Age Children
- What might happen if sheep don’t listen to their shepherd?
- In what way is Jesus like the grocery store manager in today’s devotion?
Questions for Middle School and Above
- What are things kids might trust instead of Jesus? (Google search, friends) Do those really keep you safe forever?
- Why do things like money or popularity make it so hard to listen to Jesus?
