Voice of the author…

John Maxwell, Daniel Pink, Max Lucado, Ravi Zacharias, Malcom Gladwell, Chuck Swindoll, Clayton Christensen.… this list represents the names of the authors of whom I have read multiple books that each have written: from leadership, to innovation, to anthropology, and, yes, to faith. 

So what?  Right?  Who cares what my personal bibliography page looks like?  It makes no difference. 

But what did I learn about myself from this list?  And what did I learn about my faith and my personal relationship with Jesus?  And what did I learn about my thirst for the Word?

There is something else that this list represents. 

I have heard each of them speak.

Whether in person, on the television, on the radio, or even over the internet; I have heard their voices.  And in hearing their voices I learned something more about them.  With the exception of only one author on that list, I read them before I heard them.  I found myself with one of their books, and I related to it.  I sensed truth in the pages.  Something of what they were writing resonated with me.  It piqued my interest.  And then… I heard them speak.  I have personally shaken the hand of at least three of those authors and have had correspondence from four of them.

And this is where I learned something important.

After having heard their voices… reading their work not only took on new meaning, but it became more enjoyable, and it became easier.

Why?  Because, before having heard their voice, I was reading them with mine.  It was starting with me.  Now, I cannot read their work without hearing their voice in my head.

It became personal.  It became relational.

Oh yeah, there is one other author that I forgot to list whose book I first read, and then, after having heard His voice and met Him. 

And reading the bible has never been the same since. 

Once you know the Author it is no longer a monologue to which you apply your voice.  It becomes a dialog, a conversation with the Author.  It becomes personal.  You are not reading some book of rules and regulations, but letters, personal notes, from a Friend.

The Word is alive.  The Author still in writing… He is finishing your story.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:2 (italics mine)

And it ends in joy.

I pray that we each hear His voice, that our relationships with Him deepen, that we open our hearts even wider that He might write His word upon them.

As you thumb through the pages of the story of your life, do not forget to Whom you have yielded the pen for its writing.

SDG