GodReflection: A Word We Can Count On—The Voice of God.
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; – Psalms 95:6
To Hear The Voice of God is to Worship. I was born and raised in church. I suspect there was only a short delay between my exit at the hospital and my entrance into our white plastered adobe church building.
My church valued truth. Whether truth was determined from Scripture or from tradition was equated to The Voice of God as far as my family was concerned. We were sure: To Hear The Voice of God is to Worship.
Frankly, the religious orientation that I received from my family served me well. It created a deep respect for The Voice of God. To this day I want to honor the truth of Scripture and its Revelation of God’s desire to redeem me back to Him.
If I had any criticism I might question the weak church-issued tool kit. It failed to help me determine the difference between The Voice of God and the proper place of tradition. As with any group of Christ followers, some of our traditions are mistaken for God’s Voice.
Maybe we can find help and some reassurance by listening to the boy prophet Samuel. It wasn’t until the fourth try, and with guidance from the old prophet Eli in all four of those attempts, that Samuel was able to begin to distinguish The Voice of God from the voice of Eli.
So, here I am in the final year of my seventh decade, and my ears still are tuned upward. In my attempt to hear I try to honor the following principles and guidelines.
Scripture is God’s Revelation to humankind. God is the God of Truth. I want to be familiar with The Voice of God as expressed in Holy Scripture.
Just because someone says it is The Voice of God doesn’t make it so. Jesus came that I may know God. I want to know the Jesus of the Gospels. The closer I listen to The Voice of Jesus, the nearer I find myself to hearing The Voice of God.
I am a disciple of Jesus. As such, Scripture teaches that Father God, Jesus Son, and Holy Spirit live inside of me.
Each day I live in tune with The Voice of The Triune God, Son, Spirit, as I interpret doors that may open at any given time listening for God’s response. Like He did with Samuel, He may call me at any time night or day. I want to be ready to hear A Word I Can Count On—The Voice of God.
No, there has never been an audible Voice. Yes, there are often strong indications as to when it is really The Holy Voice and I should act. I want to be nothing less than a mirror of Jesus as I reflect God to those with whom I encounter.
None of us get it right all the time. To listen to God is an act of faith. It is to recognize that we are in need and God is aware of every need we feel. At the same time, we must understand that normally The Voice of God calls for a change in direction. We must trust The Holy who loves us to lead.
To hear The Voice of God our hearts must beat with the beat of God’s heart. And as we hear The Voice of God we worship.
To listen includes the combination of Scripture, prayer, contemplation, and an awareness of our surroundings. Out of the landscape of our daily lives opportunities and needs will come into focus.
To listen to The Voice of God is to posture ourselves for response. Only hands, feet, and tongue connected to the brain can act. Only hands, feet, and tongue connected to the heart of God will joyfully respond. To hear The Voice of God is to hear the heart. To hear the heart is to worship. That is A Word We Can Count On.
Dr. Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection: A Word We Can Count On—The Voice of God.
God Reflection 