What Voices Are You Hearing? … Good morning Hump Day readers. I want to talk about noise—not just any noise—but the noisy clamor that our society believes we should hear. The reason is because I do enjoy some TV programs, albeit I wish they could all be on PBS so you don’t have to listen to the “noise of the commercials.” Want more noise–watch March Madness! I love the college games yet I also find it so sad that once these young men and women finish these games, many opt out of college early and joint the draft to play professional sports. Is the money more important than the skill God has given them to play basketball, baseball, football, etc.? Yes, those are the noises that rankle me. Especially the ones who egg us on to bet on sports. You know what is frightening about it? Look at the stats; even under-age-kids are making bets! They are savvy enough to make an illegal adult profile online so they can claim the right age to bet. Families are being torn apart by debt they could never imagine…all for a sports game?

In the story of Jonah, we find a very interesting passage from 2:8 [CEV], that says:

All who worship worthless idols
turn from the God who offers them mercy.

Here’s a true story I may have used previously or you’ve probably heard it, but it needs to be read again, and again until the voices of sin are snuffed out! Here goes:

An elderly grandmother adopted her orphaned grandchild after the parents were killed in a car accident. Shortly after adoption tragedy struck again—their house caught fire. Grandma was not very mobile but she tried with all her heart to get upstairs to rescue the child. Sadly, she died in the flames. Thankfully, the boy had shouted out the windows with all his might and the elderly widower heard the cries, climbed the old iron drainpipe and put him on his back as he came back down. It was a miracle at best that the old drainpipe didn’t fall apart!

The sad part is now this newly adopted boy is again an orphan. The local Child Services had to determine who would take custody. The small town had many good folks, farmers, teachers, mayor, wealthy and poor. They all stated their reasons why they would be the perfect choice. But, as the discussion went on, the boy’s eyes remained focused on the floor, tears shedding down on his feet.

Then, a man came in that most people didn’t know very well. In fact, they didn’t even realize he was a neighbor to the boy’s grandmother. He came up front and then took his hands from his pockets—the people gasped! The man said, ‘see these scars’ …but before anyone could say anything else, the boy came running up, “I know you—I know you! I heard you and you saved my life! Look at my hands-we both have our scars, but we’re OK!” He then jumped up and put his arms around the man’s neck and, just like the day they climbed down from the burning home, he held on for dear life.

Think about this scenario, everyone had good reason to be a parent, but only the one with marred hands “spoke” to the boy, and the rest of the story? —an old scarred man and a young scarred young man were now family. Is this not the plan of our mighty God? Is this not the story of Jesus—his nail-scarred hands and feet for our rescue?

So, getting back to noise, how many voices are calling for our attention today? We have a choice to snuff out the noise that hurts us and tears us away from the Savior who gave it all for us. It’s so easy to say,’ it’s not much, just a few bucks, or just a night on the town-I deserve it-right?’ —or, fill in your own voices that you have listened to and followed and wished to God you hadn’t. How did it work out? What resolve did you make to stick to the words of God, to the call of Christ, to the prompting of the Holy Spirit who works in your conscience to hear the right calls?

In this season of Lent leading up to the death of Jesus and the victory of Jesus Resurrection, stands One man—the only man whose nail-pierced hands remind us that He has rescued us from sin and its deadly consequences. His voice is the one we need to listen to rather than the cacophony of the world’s LOUD chorus of noisy voices.

Let’s face it, it’s very easy to get sucked into what could be a financial plus or that new over-expensive home, or a better spouse, etc. The noise will climb in your mind until the clamor will drive you nuts. That is when you shout your own noise “enough-be silenced” and say “O Jesus, precious Savior, quiet my soul and speak to my heart and mind with your truth, grace, mercy, forgiveness and love. I need you today and every day, Amen.”