Find Your Voice!

When was the last time you succumbed to peer pressure? Turned away from someone who looked as if they needed a friend? Ignored someone less “cool” than yourself? Acted or said something unkind to someone close to you? Gave your word and then went back on it? Didn’t actually lie, but didn’t tell the whole truth either? Told a white lie to get out of something you didn’t want to do?

What type of voice do you have? I don’t mean your singing voice, or the extent of your singing range. I mean something much more subtle and powerful -- your voice as an individual child of God.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, when they came to arrest Jesus, the book of John says that they asked Jesus if He was the One they sought: “When He responded, ‘I am He,’ they drew back and fell to the ground.” (John 18:4-6)

THAT’S a powerful voice! Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of time considering that passage. I’ve come to believe that, when Jesus spoke those words, all of the power of {{I AM}} became evident for that single moment in time. The POWER of those words pushed those people back as they fell to the ground. They could not stand against the amazing presence of {{I AM}}. Just imagine it! The One who created the earth, moon, and stars spoke at a moment in time, and eternity ripped through temporality for that split second!

So what does YOUR voice stand for? Do you stand for those in need, as you act with compassion? Do you stand for those in pain, as you work to ease their suffering? Do you stand against injustice, for those who have no voice? Do you stand as someone who is reliable and keeps their word in all circumstances?

Or do you stand as someone who passes by those in need, as the Israelites passed by the one who had been beset by thieves? Are you one of those people, or are you the Samaritan? The one who stops and makes the extra effort, even when it is inconvenient or challenging for you? Are you one who stands by, or one who takes action?

Maybe, as we approach this Resurrection Day, we should step back & take a hard look at ourselves and our voices. Maybe we should ask ourselves the tough questions that we usually avoid in the hectic rush of our lives. We each have only one voice. What does YOUR voice stand for?

Only one life to offer
Jesus, my Lord and King.
Only one tongue to praise Thee
And for Thy mercies sing (forever).
Only one heart's devotion,
Savior, O may it be
Consecrated alone to Thy matchless glory,
Yielded fully to Thee.

Only this hour is mine, Lord.
May it be used for Thee.
May ev'ry passing moment
Count for eternity (my Savior).
Souls all about are dying,
Dying in sin and shame.
Help me bring them the message
Of Calv'ry's redemption
In Thy glorious name.

Only one life to offer.
Take it, dear Lord, I pray.
Nothing from Thee withholding,
Thy will I now obey (my Jesus).
Thou who hast freely given
Thine all in all for me,
Claim this life for Thine own,
To be used, My Savior,
Ev'ry moment for Thee.

~~”Only One Life” by Avis Christiansen & Merrill Dunlop (c) 1937, 1964