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Does your
family have sayings that are passed down? Mine does. One of
the favorite sayings comes from my grandmother - my Swedish,
praying grandmother, who is 93 this year. She's the one who
would fix a whole table full of food for just the two of us
when I would drive out to see her when I was in seminary.
My family loves to eat, and we love to talk, and that doesn't
always mix well. When we'd be talking too much at the dinner
table, she would say, "Let your vittles stop your mouth."
What a great line! We Americans talk a lot; and subsequently,
we don't listen.
A little
girl was watching TV in the family room when her mother called
out, "Michelle, come to dinner!" No response. A
short time later her mother called out again, "Michelle,
come to dinner!" Again, no response. Finally, the mother
literally shouted, "Michelle, come to dinner!!"
Whereupon the little girl came out of the family room, ran
to the kitchen, and with an innocent look on her face said,
"Sorry, Mom. I didn't hear you the first two times."
One
thing is clear about today's world: there is a serious shortage
of good listeners. We have a hard time listening
to each other, let alone God.
So many
things get in the way - our talking for one. We talk too much.
Most of us talk, talk, talk. And even when we're not
talking, we're not listening. We're trying to think of what
we're going to say when the other person slows up enough for
us to break in. Listening, really listening, listening
all the way through the last word of the other person, is
a loving way to let the other person know we really care.
As Christians, if we want others to hear the good news of
Jesus Christ, we need to give our attention to those we care
about and are trying to reach. The old adage "Because
you listened to me, I will listen to you" really works!
We need to listen carefully, to others and to God.
It's
clear we don't take time for God-listening in our schedule.
There are many of us who wouldn't interrupt a fishing trip
or golf outing or shopping trip for anything in the world.
In their mind they want to serve God, but they keep eliminating
anything that would interfere with their schedule. Just last
week in the Parents of Confirmation class, I heard that people
were commenting that "three hours was too long to be
at church." I also heard someone respond: "But it's
not too long to be at a soccer game?"
Something
else about the world: it loves noise. What would it be
like if some kind of solar ray suddenly caused all radios,
tape players, stereos, VCRs, televisions, and computers to
stop working? Trembling hands would immediately begin to twist
dials, adjust knobs, click mouses, and grab remotes. Eyes
would dilate with fear of silence. Terrorized people would
be running in the streets or fleeing in their cars.
"Karl
Marx was wrong," someone has said. "Religion is
not the opiate of modern man, incessant sound is. People will
listen to anything to avoid silence." To which we might
add: "People will listen to anything to drown out the
voice of God."
Jesus
called himself the "good Shepherd" and distinguished
himself from all the others who were trying to lead the flock
of people. He distinguished himself from the thief and the
robber. The word "thief" implies trickery or manipulation.
The word "robber" implies violence and plundering.
The purpose of both was exploitation; neither cared about
the welfare of the sheep. But Jesus did. One thing Jesus repeats
is that the sheep "know his voice." You and I can
learn to "know the voice of Jesus" today, despite
our poor listening skills, our schedules, and the outside
noise.
How can
we "know the voice of the shepherd" today?
First,
we need to realize that God has not changed. He still speaks
to his people.
Hebrews
1:1 "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the
prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last
days he has spoken to us by his Son."
John 14:26
"The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will
send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind
you of everything I have said to you."
John 16:13-14
"When he, the Spirit of Truth, comes, he will guide you
into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak
only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and
making it known to you."
John 8:47
"He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason
you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
Does God
really speak to his people in our day? Will he reveal to you
where he is working when he wants to use you? Yes! God has
not changed. He still speaks to his people. Sin has so affected
us (Romans 3:10-11), you and I can't understand the truth
of God unless the Holy Spirit of God reveals it. He is the
teacher. As you pray, watch to see how he uses the Word of
God (the Bible) to confirm in your heart a word from God.
Watch what he is doing around you in circumstances. The God
who is speaking to you as you pray and the God who is speaking
to you in the Scriptures is the same God who is working around
you.
God speaks
by the Holy Spirit through prayer, the Bible, circumstances,
and the church to reveal himself, his purposes, and his ways.
Second,
the key to knowing God's voice is not a formula. It is
not a method you can follow. Knowing God's voice comes from
an intimate love relationship with God. That's
why the sheep know the shepherd's voice. You are going to
have to watch to see how God communicates with you. There
is no crutch. You will have to depend on God alone. Your relationship
with him is of utmost importance.
Third,
remember that God speaks with a purpose. There was something
wrong with the shepherd who talked to his sheep for conversation's
sake. We usually want God to speak to us so he can give us
a devotional thought to make us feel good all day. In scripture,
however, God is not often seen coming and speaking to people
just for conversation's sake. He was always up to something.
The moment God speaks to you is the moment God wants you to
respond to him. And God has the right to interrupt your life.
He is Lord. When we accepted him as our Lord, we gave him
the right to help himself to our lives anytime he wants.
Listen
to this good news: God never gives you an assignment that
he has not already prepared you for. Remember, God is still
speaking to his people. Have you allowed yourself to listen?
It is through a love relationship that God speaks. Do you
have a relationship with him, through which he can come to
you? He has a purpose and plan for you. Are you ready to respond
to God's purposes and ways?
This Mother's
Day, will you make the commitment to listen? Will you make
the commitment to respond? It is your decision to enter into
that relationship with Christ, the Good Shepherd. Will you
listen to his voice?
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