29 Jul

Luke 23

By Pastor Brad

Voices 

But the voice of truth tells me a diff’rent story
The voice of truth says do not be afraid
And the voice of truth says this is for My glory
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen
And believe the voice of truth

 

Each of us is well aware of the struggle that lies within. Which voice are you listening to? We can choose to listen to the voice of deception or the voice of truth.

Pilate heard two voices. The first, the voice of reason, convinced him that there was no evidence against Jesus worthy of death and that he should be released. But the second voice, the voices of the crowd and the chief priests would prove victorious.

As Jesus hangs on the cross he hears two voices. Both of these voices, the two criminals that hung beside Jesus, were close enough to talk to Jesus. One voice will mock and hurl insults at him. The other will defend and call to him. Both of them had the same opportunity to hear the words of Jesus. Both of them had enough time to seek Jesus.

The hands of Jesus, while on the cross, reached out to both of the criminals. But only one was willing to reach back. For one will reject, the other accept. Only one of them received Christ. Only one heard the voice of truth saying, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

What was it that Jesus heard this criminal say with his heart while they were dying on the cross?

I will listen and believe
‘Cause Jesus You are
The voice of truth
And I will listen to You

 

Pilate was in the presence of Christ but chose to listen to the voice of deception. Shortly following this event, this choice lead him to live in isolation on the island of Sicily where he later took his own life because he was so haunted by the memory of Jesus.

You are in close proximity to Christ right now. Will you accept or reject? Will you praise or rebuke? Will you listen or ignore? Will you say as the one criminal did, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”?

Click here to read Luke chapter 23

Voice of Truth by Mark Hall & Steven Curtis Chapman