How do we understand obedience in our meek Christ?

Obedience is to have the honor of sharing in the attributes of our Christ who is meek and humble of heart. He obeyed the Father, although His will is one with the Father’s will. In His love He said, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:39). He does not have a will different to the will of the Father. In saying these words, He bears us within Him, so that we say His words with Him with affection, and so yield our own will to fulfil the divine will that is revealed to us through those around us. The person who insists on his own opinion is far from the spirit of truth and discernment. It has been said that there are two kinds of people who never change their opinion: the fool and the dead. But a wise and well-balanced person accepts the opinion of others and is pleased to obey, so long as he is in the right.

At this point, one might ask: But how do I know the voice of truth that I might obey it? Who can tell me whether the advice given to me is right? There is a story about a person who, when he was in one of the deserts of northwest Africa, saw from afar what looked to be a huge dust storm. But as the storm drew near, he discovered that the storm was nothing more than a large flock of sheep kicking up the dust as they trotted. Suddenly, six shepherds appeared together, and the flock headed to a stream of water to drink and rest. After some time, one of the shepherds drew himself apart from the other five shepherds and began to sing. A number of sheep left the flock and trotted over to this shepherd, and as he continued to sing, his flock gradually lined up and gathered around him, leaving behind all the rest of the sheep in a big group together. Then, another shepherd withdrew and began to sing, and his flock also gathered around him, and so on with the rest of the shepherds. Having observed this, this person remembered the words of the Lord Christ: “When he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will

by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers” (John 10:4–5).

So, the answer to the question, how do I know the voice of truth that I might obey it? is: If you are His friend and you have a real fellowship with Him, you cannot help but know His voice and obey His words through others, especially leaders.

There is another story that during the First World War, on a hill near Jerusalem on a hot day, some soldiers tried to seize a flock while the shepherd was sleeping. The shepherd suddenly woke up and found his flock being led away by the soldiers. Realizing it was hopeless for him to try to stop the soldiers, another idea occurred to him by which he might regain his flock. He crept around them and from a different direction he began to call to his flock with his voice. Immediately the whole flock rushed towards him, and the soldiers were powerless to stop them. While the soldiers were in confusion, the shepherd quickly moved to a safe area with all his sheep following him. The flock knew the voice of its shepherd.⁷⁷⁴

And another story: one day, when thousands were waiting to see a dog show, one of the dogs escaped and made its way into the arena. It wandered about, dashing here and there, heedless of the many voices calling or whistling for it to come to them. Finally, on hearing the whistle of one particular boy from afar, it pelted over to him and jumped into his arms. In the midst of the noise of thousands, the dog had recognised the unique voice of its true owner.