Matthew 13 13; 16-17 (NKJV) Jesus said, "But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."
"The voice of my Savior needs to be louder than the voice of my accuser!".
When Pastor Reid said those words in his sermon, it really got my attention. I knew immediately that God had a message for me in those words. I am one of those people who follows news, politics, sports...just about anything the world wants to throw at me. Not only do I follow current events, but I also have opinions about most everything I hear (or see). Now I have some very smart friends, as evidenced by the fact that most of them recognize the brilliance of my opinions and I know they would support me if I pursued a political office. Full disclosure and confession....I want the acceptance and agreement of friends and family too much! I'm quick to get their approval and honestly don't give much thought to the other side of arguments/ opinion when they don't line up with mine.
Not only am I dismissive of others opinions, but honestly I'm dismissive of the people offering these opinions as well. I see them as less intelligent, less informed, lacking enlightenment, and less caring and compassionate. Full disclosure and confession...My pride is surfacing.
With the words of Pastor Ronnie, I recognize that instead of listening for God to speak through the news, the debates, the chaos that the world bombards us with, I parrot the world. It doesn't matter which side of issues you are on, the world supplies the talking points, the re-posts, the headlines, the photos to share.
The Holy Spirit's "Still Small Voice" is available to us if we tune out the world and listen for and seek God's voice. God's word will draw us to be more loving, more patient, kinder, more faithful and joyful. We will discover that peace can be experienced not by winning the argument but by being right, and that only comes by giving God a voice.
Discover and Proclaim the Truth of The Bible which is: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life." (John 3:16 NRSV). Jesus came to humanity to proclaim and give evidence to that love and He has commanded us to do the same. We, who believe, must not merely be followers, but we must be proclaimers of the Gospel Message and we can only do that by being filled with the love of God.
