The world is full of voices calling for our attention. It may begin with our very own voice—the voice of our dreams, our preferences, our expectations. We filter everything we hear according to the inner voice of Self. It is said that we often hear only the things we want to hear. Scripture warns us against this dangerous mindset: “The time is sure to come when people will not accept sound teaching, but their ears will be itching for anything new and they will collect themselves a whole series of teachers according to their own tastes” (2 Timothy 4.3 NJB).
Of course, we are constantly exposed to the voice of the media—news reports, talk shows, and especially advertisements that entice us to purchase a product. Then there is the voice of the people we
admire or respect—their advice, their teachings and ideas. And we cannot dismiss the impact of other voices that make demands upon us—society, family and friends, even critics—insisting that we adopt a certain perspective or do things a certain way. How do we deal with all these voices? Trying to acquiesce to every demand imposed upon us, or trying to please every call for attention can be very exhausting. Instead, over all these voices, we must learn to listen to just One Voice.
Jesus uses the image of the shepherd and the sheep as one picture of his relationship with his disciples. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10.14–16 NIV). True disciples recognize the voice of their Master, and listen only to him. The voice of Christ must be preeminent over the voices of self, of revered teachers, of society, of friends, and of critics. The truth and reliability of the claims of all other voices must be evaluated by the standard of the Lord’s Word. “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice” (John 18.37 NET).
To what end does hearing the One Voice, the voice of the Lord, lead us? When all God’s people learn to hear his one voice, then we can become a unified testimony to his glory. “Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15.5–6 NET). Then, “shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice” (Genesis 22.18 ESV).
—Keith Y. Jainga