THE VOICE WE LISTEN TO BECOMES THE MUSIC WE PLAY!

I discovered this while playing keyboard for our worship service last Sunday…

–Just when I was about to play the introduction for our closing song I heard other music in my earphone. Thinking that could be the music meant for everyone to hear, I hesitated to start playing the song originally planned…

–Until our leader gave me a nod to go ahead and play. That’s when I realized…

~The music in my earphone was NOT the right music
~The music in my earphone was NOT meant for everyone to hear
~I was the ONLY ONE hearing the wrong music

The solution?

~ Drown out the wrong music in my ear by playing the right music– loud          and clear.
~ Do that so others could sing the right music with me.
~ If necessary, TAKE OUT the earphone so I wouldn’t even hear the wrong music and get distracted by it (which I did after the first verse)!
~ Trust the Lord to help me play the right music right, in sync with the other musicians and singers, since the sound of it became faint without the earphone.

The life-lesson:

–> Sometimes the voice we hear in our head, no matter how good it sounds, is NOT THE RIGHT VOICE. 

Just like counterfeit money looks good, real, and “right”, the discerning see that it’s not only worthless, it’s deceptive and harmful. Why harmful? Because counterfeit money not only cheats whoever receives it, it could also get them in major trouble if they pass it on! 

So it is with “counterfeit” voices—whether our own thinking, others’ advice, or directly from Satan–  all seeming right, reasonable, and helpful, but in reality taking us down a destructive path if we follow it. Because–

“…even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”  2 Cor. 11:14

But how do we know if the voice is “counterfeit”, either directly or indirectly from the Enemy? 

–It’s not the same voice that wise, godly, people around us are hearing. If a “voice” comes into our head that’s negative, discouraging, critical, off-base, selfish-ambition, unethical, etc., we may not recognize its dissonance with the character of God—because it will sound logical and true to us.

That’s why we need at least one wise, spiritually-mature, accountability partner to help us hold it up to the light of God’s Word in order to examine its credibility.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  Heb. 4:12

àIf it’s counterfeit, not only should we not listen to it, we shouldn’t repeat, amplify, or spread it, because others shouldn’t hear it either!

In discerning and listening to the right voice versus the wrong ones, then, we need to:

1) Not let ourselves be distracted by the wrong voice— if that “tune” is creating confusion in our heads, and keeping us from hearing and “playing” the right one, that’s one sure sign of temptation to distraction.

–“God is not the author of confusion” 1 Cor. 14:33

–UNPLUG from any sources of the wrong (Enemy) voice—such as:  Most news and entertainment media; those who gossip and criticize; music with destructive lyrics and sounds; etc.

2) Drown it out with the Lord’s voice:  Read His Word; seek and listen to wise counsel; worship Him “in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:24); gather with godly people for fellowship, mutual edification, and sound teaching (Heb. 10:24-25)

3) “Play” His “music” confidently to influence others with it, having watched for and received His “nod” to go ahead–

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Col. 3:16

4) Keep trusting and FOLLOWING HIS VOICE, even when it sounds faint, in harmony with others who are following His voice. As Jesus said,

“…Take care what you listen to…” Mk. 4:24

–Then we’ll lead and “play” the right music for others to follow.

Hope this life lesson is “music to your ears”– it was for me!