Simplicity – Part 2 
By Mike Rule

“When He has called out all His own, He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice.” (John 10:4)

As I continue to ponder simplicity I realize how simple it is to give in to seeking fleshly (worldly) wisdom rather than seeking the wisdom of God and following the voice of my Shepherd. I’ve been in countless situations where my circumstances seemed to dictate following an obvious path. However, through faith I clearly knew the Lord was calling me to go in a way that appeared more obscure.

I often look for a list of things I must see before I will take action. I only feel comfortable enough to act if I see at least 90% of the things on my list. However, if I am willing to risk, if I am willing to live out of John 10:4, I will respond the moment my Shepherd speaks; and even though I question and doubt, I don’t give in to those things but press onward to that which is ahead. I might make mistakes but my God is able to lead, guide, direct, and care for me in spite of that. Let me give you an example.

Several years ago I traveled to another state because God had laid one person on my heart. When I got there, I spent nearly a week without making any contact with this individual. Several people asked if I was going to contact him, but I had clearly heard from the Lord, “No.” It didn’t make sense that I would travel all that distance, spend all that money and time, and drag my family along only to do nothing to connect with this fellow. As the days went by I began to doubt what I had heard from God. I wondered if I should make attempts to connect. However, the Lord impressed upon me that I was to wait upon Him and He would do the work. Just a few days before we left for home we were attending a church service when this fellow and his family walked in. What made it so amazing was that they had moved away and only decided on a whim to come to church there that morning. As a result of that connection, I was able to spend many hours working with him and his family over the next few days. Today this fellow has become a very dear brother.

Worldly wisdom says you do not travel all those miles and hours to see someone and then not do anything to connect with them. God said different. So who do I believe? It seems simple to trust in worldly wisdom – in sight – but if I had made efforts to connect, it would have been premature and likely the situation would not have turned out as it did. Because God said He would do it, and He brought it about, I had confidence that the connection was of Him therefore, I could walk boldly through it.

Don’t surrender the simplicity of the Christian life, which is following the voice of Jesus. Our Shepherd is trustworthy, and even when you think you are getting things all wrong and making mistakes, He is big enough to handle it. That is the simplicity of what is ours in Jesus Christ.

"For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you." (2 Corinthians 1:12)