One definition of ‘sound’ is the vibration transmitted through the air or other medium. (Dictionary.com) The sound is noisy, loud, and resounding. But in the Bible, John tells of a vastly different sound, one that reverberates through the body and throughout the world. I call this sound the sound of God’s love and this sound reverberates in the form of inner peace.
God loved us so much that He sent His Son to earth to take away our pain of living in eternal sin in exchange for His Son’s death. He sent Jesus to die on the cross for us.
During His three years in ministry, He taught His disciples to love as the Father loves Him and He loves us. This type of love, agape love, is free of condemnation. He teaches us to listen beyond the words of those who betray us, hate us, and have disdain for who we are in Christ. He taught us to love regardless of personal interactions.
In the Old Testament David slayed Goliath hurling a stone that killed him to save his people. This young boy relied on his faith in God to slay a giant. It was not the noise of the stone jettisoning towards the giant’s head that he heard, it was the love of his Lord that spoke to his heart and gave him the confidence to take on an unimaginable task. Most of the stories in the Old Testament reflect quiet sounds when God communicated with His people, during other times it was verbal and often loud, as the Holy Spirit had not yet entered our hearts. All of the stories demonstrated the love of God for His people that reverberates in us and around the world today.
In the New Testament, we no longer audibly hear God’s voice, instead, He speaks through the Holy Spirit, who lives in us, and instructs us in the quiet still sound of His voice. His voice is the voice of God., God’s love emanates His Glory. His Glory reverberates in the hearts of believers and gives new life. God’s love is quiet yet reverberates throughout the world, calling all to join His family. God’s love is the love of a Father calling out to His children. the sound of God’s love is quiet, intense, profound, and peaceful, all in the same moment.
Associated Scriptures
John 10:27 ESV, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
Hebrews 4:12 ESV, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of would and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
John 10:16 ESV, “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock.”
Hebrews 3:7 ESV, “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice,”
Psalm 85:8 ESV, “Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people…”
1 John 5:14 ESV, “And this is the confidence that we have toward him (faith), that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
John 3:16 ESV, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
“God loves each of us as tho there is only one of us.” St. Augustine
Scriptures – biblegateway.com, ESV; Itakeoffthemask.com
Images – The God of Love – NIV; Michael Dudlash, Pinterest; spreadinghopeeverywheretalks.com