I have two favorite places to go in Nashville, Tennessee. One is a few blocks from my house. I love to go there and walk with my wife and even by myself. It’s full of trees and flowers, numerous interesting buildings, two roaring creeks. several trails that wander through woods, an 8-acre farm that grows all kinds of produce, a farm store, and even a museum. It is Ellington Agricultural Center, and it is the headquarters of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. It’s never crowed except when they host an annual festival. The nature there points me to its Creator, and I hear His voice as a stroll along.

Ellington Agricultural is a wonderful place today, but it hasn’t always been. There is a small family cemetery that reveals a history of men, women, and children being abusively held in forced life-long labor and bought and sold like cattle. Walking there among slaveholders’ graves helped inspire me to write a book about the history of race-based human trafficking in America. If you want to read it, google: Off the RACE Track–From Color-Blind to Color-Kind.

My other favorite place to visit in Nashville is the Saint Ignatius Antiochian Orthodox Church building. It’s actually in Franklin, Tennessee just South of Nashville. My wife and I have been visiting it for many years. We even celebrated our 10th anniversary there with a marriage rededication ceremony in the sanctuary and a reception in the fellowship hall.

We love to go there and sit alone in the sanctuary full of beautiful icons and incense. As we enter, we begin to sense the presence of the risen Jesus Christ. As we quietly listen to Christ’s inner voice, we hear Him speaking to us and feel Him touching us deep within. I love to listen to Jesus anywhere and everywhere, but Saint Ignatius is one of my favorite places to do so. I’ve written a book about how to listen to Jesus. Google: The Joy of Early Christianity book.

I was listening to Jesus last night as I was visiting a friend’s home. This is what I heard:

Divisiveness among Christians is a sign. It reveals that they are not listening to Christ’s voice but to the world’s voice.

Jesus’ sheep hear His voice and follow Him. People who aren’t His sheep don’t. (John 10:26-27) When Jesus’ sheep listen to Him, they discover that they are connected heart-to-heart with all of His other sheep worldwide regardless of religious affiliation. (John 10:16)

When there is jealousy and quarreling among Christians and when they align themselves with a man or an organization they are acting as “mere human beings” instead of as Christ’s sheep. (1 Corinthians 3:3-4) People who are listening to Christ’s voice don’t boast about human leaders. (1 Corinthians 3:21) “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:31)

Be Spirit-led by Christ in you.
1) Ask Jesus to speak to you.
2) Notice what comes into your consciousness as you listen.
3) Embrace and obey what aligns with the Bible and your conscience.
(Romans 8:14)

No religious institution has the right to say who can listen directly to Jesus and who can or cannot speak for God. “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.”