Devotionals for the Heart: Why it's important to listen to God's Voice

His Master's Voice
A devotional by Wade Webster

Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.'"

–Joshua 4:21-22 (NIV)

I found it next to a dumpster in the apartment complex I live in.

It probably meant something to somebody when they acquired it quite a while before they discarded it.

I could tell it had been stored in obscurity before it found its way here. Three sides of the wood frame promised a dark brown hue. The left side was covered in a thick layer of dust and pet hair. It was solid so I took it home.

I had some time so I removed the center section and applied a few coats of Murphy's Oil Soap to the wood. It soon returned to its new luster. I've always loved wood grained articles. The main portion was made of glass so a couple of applications of Windex cleaned that up in no time. An amateur screwed two screws into the back of the frame so I took those out and made it so it would lie flat against the wall again.

The wall I decided to hang it on held a puzzle my ex-wife did several years go. I've been replacing her items as I can to help me move on. Once in place I stood back and let the message on the glass speak to me again.

It’s an old ad for the Victor Talking Machine Company. The original record player is what they created. There's a dog with his head tipped as he's peering into the cone that juts out from the record. The backdrop is now a mirror. The caption under the dog is why I appreciate this piece and why I exerted so much effort in restoring this treasure that somebody trashed. 

Just three words: HIS MASTER'S VOICE

That's what the dog recognized. That's what I hope people say about me once they get to know me. I want them to say, “Wade heard his Master's voice,” especially when they learn that my Master is Jesus Christ.

When Joshua led the people of God across the Jordan River during flood stage (read about it in the Bible book of Joshua, Chapter 3), he had a man from each tribe carry a stone out of the riverbed that was now dry (read about it in the Bible book of Joshua, Chapter 4). The mission for those simple rocks was an easy stack to remind the people of how and where God repeated the Red Sea miracle. He knew everyone who had experienced that event would soon die off. The power of their God must be remembered for those who followed so they wouldn't stray away from Him.

In closing, let’s read Joshua 4:24, which says, “He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”

Reminders of past events can either hold us back or propel us forward. Do your best to display something that will improve your service and devotion to God.

What do you have set up to remind you of this invisible God you serve?

~*~
Author Bio:

Wade Webster is a farm boy turned city slicker, heathen turned born-again Christian, truck driver turned writer doing his best to point folks to his best friend, Jesus Christ.  

He currently lives in Plano, Texas.

Wade is the author of 100 Prayers of a Writer, a book that didn't begin as a book, just weekly prayers to a group of writer friends.

He enjoys spending time in nature, running for exercise and dark chocolate, though not necessarily in that order. Apart from driving 18-wheelers for a living he has a part-time job painting houses on the side...and the front and back and inside.

As a teenager, he told his friends he never wanted to be considered normal. So far he's done a pretty good job of living up to that aspiration.