Discerning the Voice of God – Part 2
The disciples were walking with Jesus, witnessing His miracles, hearing His teachings firsthand, and yet they were still caught up in ambition, comparison, and ego. Jesus responds, not with rebuke, but with a surprising invitation into child-likeness.
“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (v2-3)
To hear God’s voice clearly, we must come to Him with humility. Like children that are teachable, dependent, and trusting. The loudest voices in the world are often those of power, pride, and self-promotion. But the voice of God often comes softly, in stillness, in the quiet place where ego dies and surrender begins.
Discerning His voice isn’t just about hearing, it’s about attitude. A child doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. A child looks to a parent with eyes full of trust and we are encouraged to do the same.
Jesus also goes on to give a sobering warning, don’t cause others to stumble and what happens when sin is left unchecked in our lives. These aren’t just moral guidelines; they are spiritual safeguards. The more our hearts are shaped by sin, pride, and selfish desires, the harder it becomes to hear God clearly.
“If your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.” (v9)
This may sound extreme, but Jesus is emphasizing how vital it is to guard our hearts. Sin numbs the soul and distorts our ability to discern. When we tolerate the things that pull us away from God’s voice, we begin tuning into the wrong frequency.
Jesus’ teachings in this passage aren’t meant to shame us, but lead us into the fullness of life. When we truly desire to discern His voice, He meets us. He gives us the Holy Spirit as our guide, the Scriptures as our foundation, and the Church as our community of encouragement and accountability.
Discerning God’s voice doesn’t require spiritual greatness, it requires spiritual openness. Like a child, willing to listen, willing to trust, and willing to follow and this is why He still places children in our midst. Not as a distraction, but to teach us what greatness in the Kingdom really looks like.