If the care of a soul (or a community) be entrusted to me,
and I consent to subject it to weakening influences,
because the voice of the world-
my immediate Christian world-
fills my ears,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.
Amy-Carmichael, IF
Proverbs 2:2 Incline your ear to wisdom and your heart to understanding
It is a privilege to be entrusted with a soul. To care for and nurture the inner man with weighty substance of things eternal. The phrase: “voice of the world” echoes deep. What are the sounds I have trained my ear to listen for? Earthly pleasures? Pleasing promises? Accolades? Most worthy causes? Does my ear know how to pick out the phrases of a soul’s heart cry when the face before me is all smiles and “no worries?” Do I discern the voice behind the words? Do I listen for heart phrases, and silent sighs? Have I turned from the still and small to embrace the clamor and clang of man’s cymbal-lic honors, and tinkling praise? Oh Lord, let me not consent to weaken the message of hope, or bend under the pressure of the praise of men. Let me fear The King, and know wisdom. Let me love the silence between the words and know Calvary love.
