His Master’s Voice

In the days before CDs "His Masters Voice" used to be a record label. The logo was a little dog sitting in front of an early record playing machine – one with a big horn. The idea was the little dog couldn’t be with his master, but he could be comforted by the sound of his master’s voice. Today it is a large shop using the initials.

Do you know the master’s voice? Some people are so damaged by life that they only hear our Lord, our Master, saying bad and condemning things. This is a lie of the enemy. Our Lord will convict us of sin, but He never condemns us. When you think you hear how bad you are – does it line up with Scripture? Is this the good, good Father we sing about? A good father disciplines. We need to respond by repenting when he does. In response there is an amazing scripture which says He chooses to remember our sin no more.

‘“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool”’ (Isaiah 1:18).

‘No longer will they teach their neighbour, or say to one another, “Know the LORD,” because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more”’ (Jeremiah 31:34).

I used to ponder on how God can choose to remember my sin no more. I can see it. I can hear it. I know about it, and often a lot of other people know about it too.

As a parent, I understand it is a choice we make. We take all the emotion out of it. This is how it works when you are a parent. “I love you. I understand you did that. I’m proud of the way you had the courage to own up that you did it (even though I knew all along you did it). I am pleased you didn’t lie to get out of it. Because you have come to me, I choose not just to forgive you. There may be repercussions. For example, you may have to pay for the item you broke, but I chose to not remember what you did as we move forward.”

I am by no means a perfect parent. I did my best and I made mistakes, but I did try hard to do this. Father does not want us to have a nasty voice in our head telling us we will fail before we even start – or whatever the enemy is saying.

You can do it. You may fail. But come back each time to Father. Check your direction. Are you walking in the direction He wants you to, or are you straying off the path? Are you still walking in His will, or is His voice fading as you drift further away? Are you walking the way He wants you to, in His will, but you have just made a mistake? Come to Him in repentance of the sin you have committed. And remember you need to forgive yourself.

You have been chosen by the King of kings who does not make mistakes, and He loves you. He sent His son to stretch out His arms on the cross and say, “I love you”. You are one of the sheep He knows by name.

Prayer: Loving Father, help me to see myself as You see me and not to listen to the enemy. Help me to forgive myself, and Father, help me to listen to You more clearly each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.