Voice and Verdicts

A few years ago, a sweet young family invited us to their house for lunch. They were new to our church and we were thrilled they had invited us. So even though I had a bronchoscopy 2 days earlier, we said yes. Because of the procedure, my voice was a little weak and raspy. After being told there wasn’t anything I could do to help in the kitchen, I went into the backyard with the youngest child and started pushing her in the swing. We talked as she went back and forth. As I stopped her so she could get down, she whipped her head around and said, “Are you old or something? You sound like an old lady!”

Up until that point, I thought I came across as a young 51 year old! It was easy to laugh at this determination of who I was. After all, my voice was weak and it was pronounced over me by a three year old! But I have had other judgements spoken over me that I didn’t shake off so easily.

Whether it was my own condemning voice or the voices of friends, family or acquaintances, I have let them rule my thoughts and I have made some bad decisions because I was listening to the wrong judgement.

You see we were made for a verdict. As humans we were made to have the voice of our Creator be the loudest, most sought after and clearest voice in our lives. Our hearts long to hear who we are and what we were made for.  For instance, God says we are all made in His image. (Genesis 1:27) God says His creation is good. (Genesis 1-2) He said Adam’s aloneness was not good. (Genesis 2:18) God has spoken to help us know who He is.  As a result of knowing who God is, we can find out who we are.

The problem comes when I start listening to other voices. Other voices are loud and carry weight. It could be the voices of my parents, children, people who are disappointed in me or people who are pleased with me. One of the voices that is the loudest for me is my own. My own judgement of myself is continually speaking. Scripture calls Satan our accuser. His voice is often turned up in my mind, Even last night as I tried to fall asleep, 

these thoughts filled my mind:

• How could you have done that? 

• Don’t you realize the damage you have caused?

• Why did you let that person walk all over you?

• Why do you keep trying to do what you think God wants, it will all end in disappointment and failure.

  
  

Thankfully 1 Corinthians 4:3-4 rescues me again and again. But as a matter of fact, it matters very little to me what you, or any man, thinks of me- I don’t even value my opinion of myself- but that doesn’t justify me before God. My only true judge is God himself. JBPh

Most of the time, I don’t accomplish what we just read! I am so in process over this! But Paul has gotten to the place where the only voice of judgement that matters to him is God’s.  In reality, God is the only One who is able to be the judge. He always has the perfect verdict over everything. We, as humans, are constantly giving our own judgement of ourselves or letting others judgements impact us. I love how Paul says, I don’t even value my own opinion of myself. Paul knows our own opinion isn’t worth much. I can live in blindness to my own needs or puffed up because of my accomplishments. Usually I’m swinging wildly between the two.

Thankfully Jesus steps right into my see-saw like thoughts and judgements and settles it once and for all. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

If I am in Christ, all accounts have been settled. When my mind tells me, do you know how badly you have messed up? Jesus steps in and says,”put that failure on my account. I have paid for it in full on the cross. Give Andrea my righteousness. She is to be treated as if she has never sinned because I never did and she has my life exchanged for hers.”

When others cry out, we want justice! We saw her do wrong! Jesus says, “that sin also is on me. I am the Just and the Justifier. All sin will be accounted for. For Andrea, it was paid for on the cross.”

Everyday I have a choice. Do I really believe this? Do I believe I have Jesus’s record even though I am a great sinner? I am a great sinner and I have a GREAT Savior. You see, achieved Identity is fragile. Received Identity is solid. I can never measure up. Jesus knew that so He came and lived a perfect life in my place. He gives His righteousness to all who will repent and believe. Are you believing this gospel message today?

The late Tim Keller said, “Christianity is the only religion where you get the verdict before the performance.” This is why it is called good news. It is the good news of the gospel. Jesus is speaking a better word.

Whose voice are we listening to?