The Whisper of Another Voice
Mark 4:3-4; 15
3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up."
On any given day, God’s voice can be silenced in our lives by any of the scenarios in the story. We are not just one type of soil: bird ravaged, rocky, shallow, or thorny. The truth is we can be any of them. We can be any of them at different times and seasons of our lives.
Today, we will consider the first scenario.
4 as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up.
Jesus later interpreted the parable to His disciples. Speaking specifically of the seed and the birds, He said,
15 These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.
What a picture! Jesus speaks; we hear the Word and then quietly, a bird lands on the ground and begins picking at the seed. We never even hear it. We are not even aware that its taking place.
Satan’s attacks seldom feel like attacks. It’s so tremendously subtle, like a bird. You’ve been sniped and you don’t even know you have been sniped. You’ve been stolen from and you don’t even know it.
One of the most elusive obstacles to hearing the voice of God comes in the form of doubting whispers and second guessing from another voice.
You sense God calling you to TRUST His way in a difficult situation. Then the whisper comes in, “If it doesn’t work, you could lose your job?”
God moves you to change the climate of your home. Then the whisper comes in, “What will your family think? They have seen the real you. They would never BELIEVE it.”
You read in Scripture how God in His grace reclaims our hearts for Himself. Then you hear the whisper, “Not for people like you. Not for people who have done what you have done.”
To which voice are you listening?
