If it Doesn't Sound Like Jesus Rebuke it

Do you ever feel inadequate?  Maybe you have been feeling that way lately.  Perhaps you have been single for a while and instead of feeling that God hasn’t brought the right person into your life, you have begun to feel that YOU aren’t the right person.  Maybe midterms just defeated you as your retention of the information wasn’t perfect and you feel that your intelligence is lacking.  Could you be like me?  Someone who is getting ready to graduate and is looking for a job and while each interview you play up your strengths you leave feeling they identified every one of your weaknesses? 

In this world we are constantly faced with rejection and judgment.  Our imperfections constantly confront us.  What is hard is that these imperfections are pointed out by the voices of those surrounding us and they hold truth.  I have found that as the days press on and life moves me from one stage to the next, the voices grow more demanding.  Some of the voices are insecurities that I project and reflect off of those whose opinions I value.  Some of the voices come from those around me who have the best intentions and only want to help me.  And some of the voices are clearly Satan spitting lies. 

I once heard in a sermon from Jeremiah Bolich where he said, “if it doesn’t sound like Jesus rebuke it.”  This simple statement has stuck with me and I have been trying to implement it into my life.  What I have come to notice is that as the voices pile up and I allow them into my mind choosing to dwell on what they are saying and they drown out Christ.  It isn’t that Christ ever leaves me, but I allow these others voices to line up, each one yelling to be heard over the last.  My mind becomes a chaotic chasm and the voices swallow me.  As they yell over each other, pretty soon I can no longer hear Christ and that is when I stumble in defeat and I feel abandoned. 

Slowly I have been analyzing each voice to see if it aligns with scripture and God’s call of my life.  What I have come to notice is that God’s voice is distinctly different.  Some of the other voices point out my faults and my shortcomings but they make me feel defeated and condemned.  These voices place the burden of guilt and weigh me down.  When God points out my flaws He does it in love and reminds me of his mercy.  He calls me to him and shows me how to change.  He instills hope through his mercy and does not guilt me into defeat. 

This is why quiet time in the presence of the Lord is so important.  We will never hear his voice if we are not listening for it.  God does not yell to get our attention, he doesn’t guilt us into repentance, he speaks truth in love and waits patiently to extend his mercy.  He doesn’t speak in riddles, he is clear and concise.  His voice isn’t hard to hear, but you MUST listen for it.

“If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.’ Consider carefully what you hear, he continued.  ‘With the measure you use, it will be measured to you-and even more.” – Mark 4:23-24

I challenge you to look at the voices you have been listening to and to examine if they are words from the Lord.  Start by sitting down with the Bible for God has already provided us with direct access to his word.  Pray and quiet your mind so that he can reveal himself to you.  Seek him so that his spirit will fill your body and his words will fill your mind.  Luke 6:45 “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”