voices – CadreMen Press

“Worship Anyway” By Kirk Hunt

And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.

Mark 14:3 NKJV

Please read one (or all) of the Gospel accounts:
Matthew 26: 6–13; Mark 14: 3–9; Luke 7: 36–50; John 12: 1–8.

Even today, an alabaster box (for perfume) is costly and uncommon. Spikenard, which grows only in the Himalayas of Nepal, remains rare and expensive. Mary spent over a year’s wages to worship.

The whispering Pharisees used her past to slander Jesus. Jesus’ Disciples complained about the “wasteful” expression of her worship. Given a say, it appears that Pharisee and Disciple would have denied her the opportunity to worship. Despite them, or their intentions, Mary worshiped anyway.

The Bible does not confirm that Mary was a prostitute. Scripture states she had been demon-possessed and a notorious sinner. Mary did not let her past, or the murmuring busybodies, keep her from Jesus.

You have an opportunity to worship today. Will you pay the price? Will you walk past your history or circumstances and worship God? Are you willing to ignore the whispers from without, or within, to worship Jesus?

Whatever it costs, He is worthy. No matter what others do or say, Jesus is available to you. No matter what has happened before, He waits for you.

The voices are noise and distraction. If you want to, you can worship. Everything else is just details.

Think: I can worship Jesus, if I am determined.

Pray: “Lord, I worship You, because You are worthy.”

This devotional is a ministry of http://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

“Which Voices Are Speaking?” By Kirk Hunt

And the Lord said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart.

Jeremiah 14:14 NKJV

To my dismay, people I know, treasure and respect make poor choices and take disreputable actions. Despite what I know they know, their actions conflict with what I know of their character. It seems that there are voices in their lives that lead them down these unworthy paths.

The false prophets of Jeremiah’s era assured the nation of Judah that their continuing sin and corruption would not be held against them. Perhaps, the Babylonian conquest could have been averted, had Judah repented and returned to God. The voices of the false prophets convinced Judah to remain in their sinful ways, and the great captivity fell on the nation.

There are voices in my life as well. I trust, or trusted, certain men and women to speak into my life. Now, sometimes retroactively, I screen their words through Scripture. I am too often surprised at how poorly their words compare to the Word of God.

True prophets speak God’s truth. Their voices match Scripture. Their only agenda is to speak what God says.

You and I have voices, past and present, speaking to our hearts, minds and souls. Only the true prophets should be listened to. The routes you follow accurately report which voices you hear.

Think: The voices I listen to must agree with Scripture.

Pray: “Lord, help me to hear only Your voice.”

This devotional is a ministry of http://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.