“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

The early Catholic church seems to have had a very dynamic beginning; the acts of the apostles are filled with very interesting examples of how the Holy Spirit worked in partnership with them. For example telling Phillip to catch up with the Ethiopian eunuch’s chariot and make that first African convert; or Annanias being instructed in a vision to visit Saul and pray for his healing. They heard His voice and followed instructions. This was the essence of building the kingdom in union with God. One sees this process in those early centuries, over and over again. 

Nowadays we seem more comfortable with assigning such intimate conversation with God as the domain of canonised saints; something to be avoided whilst at the same time assuming our own ideas are more than likely God’s will and all is therefore going according to plan. I wonder though if a renewed focus on really listening for the voice of God is needed in our rather uncertain and troubled age. 

I heard a story about a Ukrainian Pastor during the 2014 invasion of Eastern Ukraine by the Russians. As the Russian militias approached his city; using the church minibus, he evacuated his wife and family to a safe area. Then he paused and asked God, “should I go back?” He answered ‘yes’ and so he returned to begin evacuating the rest of the inhabitants. As the second group filled the minibus he paused again to ask God for instructions and was told by Him to take a different route this time because his previous exit now had a Russian military roadblock in place. He followed and took a new route and the next group were evacuated safely. And so it went on; each journey began with seeking the guidance of God for each step; and each time they went according to His instructions and avoided contact with the invading army. A total of 10,000 people were evacuated in the end. 

It’s rather like the way King David conversed with the Lord in preparing for battle; always different; no formulae or principle to be followed, just the Holy Spirit. 

Of course the pastor above did not suddenly begin this practice as war began; he and his flock were already listening to God in their daily life and work: listening for the ‘still small voice’ had become a regular practice for them, they were thus well prepared when trouble arrived. Perhaps it is time for our church to do likewise; as trouble is never far away; we must fill our flasks with oil and be ready.