Listening to the right voice
by Janette Lange
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I feared the people and obeyed their voice (1 Samuel 15:24b).
Read 1 Samuel 15:24–35
How many times have I been guilty of this? Of fearing people and obeying their voice? Too many times to remember. Perhaps this is an issue for you also. I naturally shy away from conflict and desire to keep the peace. Obviously, it’s good to strive for harmony and peace in our relationships; however, it’s important not to be swayed from what is right by our own desires or what others think. But it can be hard, can’t it? Who wants to ruin a family get-together with difficult conversations? Who wants to risk being ‘cancelled’ by speaking out on moral issues? Who wants to be considered ‘uncool’ by not doing what ‘everyone else’ is?
When we pay attention to the voices of the world or to the desires of our own hearts, we end up compromised or led astray. That was certainly the case for Saul, and it cost him his leadership. That’s because those voices are contrary to what God is saying. We can let them drown out what he is saying to us.
By following their voices instead of God’s, we treat them as more important than him. God is asking us to take him at his word, trust him and follow him. He is asking us to be obedient. Not because he wants to spoil our fun or make our lives hard, but because he wants what is best for us and those around us.
As sinful humans, we don’t find it easy to obey God. The good news is that Christ, the fully obedient one, has saved us from the condemnation of our disobedience. Now, when we strive to be obedient to God, we’re not trying to earn God’s favour. God’s favour is already ours – as a freely given gift. And by his Holy Spirit, he actively helps us to trust and obey him. He empowers us to recognise God’s voice and follow what he says.
As we immerse ourselves in his word and spend time with him in prayer, we learn to hear his voice more clearly. And more and more, we become people after God’s own heart, rather than our own.
Good Shepherd, help me to hear your voice clearly and follow in your path. Help me to stand up for what is right and be a bold witness for you. Thank you for the freedom and new life I have in you, won for me by Christ’s obedience on the cross. Amen.
Janette is a member of Glynde Zion congregation, a vibrant multicultural faith community in suburban Adelaide. She works as an archivist and translator of German historical documents. In her free time, Janette enjoys reading, solving cryptic crosswords, learning languages, travelling, researching family history and relaxing in her garden. Thanks to her husband’s influence, she now enjoys watching Formula 1 and golf.
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