In the midst of all the voices seeking to be heard in our world today, one voice that often seems predominant is: the “me” voice. It is not very often that one hears the “we” voice.
When I use the phrase: the “we” voice, I am referring to that heart response that longs to seek the good of others. Paul put it this way in Galatians 5:13: ‘It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows.” [The Message]
The “me” voice is focused on doing “whatever it wants to do”; it shuts off its heart from the needs of others and from the need for others. Rather than serving one another, the “me” voice pushes one to serve self and self only.
Honestly, none of us would say that the “me” voice is a primary voice of our heart and of our actions. And yet …
The Psalmist tells us to ask God “to search our hearts and see if there is any hurtful (or grievous) way in me” (139.23-24). So, that “me” voice must lurk somewhere in our hearts and seek ways to assert its will. For example …
— Hoping for a free Saturday for once, our small group proposes to have an outside picnic together on that very Saturday. The “me” voice comes up with at least twenty reasons why this would not be a good idea. With most reasons coming from my wanting a free Saturday.
— I have a new idea for our CP team. I bring it to the team, but when pushback comes, I choose to listen to the “me” voice and not profit from the insights found in the feedback from others.
— A fellow worker sits down to talk with me. During the conversation, this worker shares their disappointment with me and the way that I responded in a recent group discussion. The “me” voice goes into overdrive wanting nothing more than to defend myself.
Turning more to the “we” voice is not the simple answer. Our need is far greater. The “we” voice should drive us back to Christ where our true identity and acceptance is found; where our only hope for true and complete forgiveness can be received.
Listening more for the “we” voice will help us help one another to go back to the cross and receive again all that we need from the One who came to give His life for us, and to give us the freedom to love and serve one another.
Filed under: Community, One another, Serving |
Thoughts Along The Journey 
The “we” voice I want to cultivate in this new year is “Jesus in me!” When I live out of the “we” of “the life I now live by faith in the Son of God,” I will have a right “we” mindset and behavior towards those around me.
That is another way of talking about “union with Christ”. Just read the chapter on “Union” in Deeper, by Dane Ortlund. Very helpful and reminded me of what you wrote.