Hearing God . . .

The actions of a friend seemed technically right but something was bugging me. Yesterday while reading the Scriptures a verse popped out that explained why I was unsure about those actions. It also affirmed that obeying God is not about a set of rules or ideals. Listening to His Spirit is vital. What we think we should do might not be the right thing for the situation or the right timing.

For most Christians, this is too subjective. If what we hear is from God, we want verification from His Word, double affirmation. This has me thinking about the importance of the Bible for Christian living and how vital to know what it says, especially as I listen for His still small voice that gives amazing personal guidance. It’s no surprise that today’s reading puts me in this familiar passage:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16–17)

A little exploration in a Bible dictionary gives simple definitions of what the Word of God does for those who spend time reading and studying it . . .  

Teaching refers to activities that impart knowledge or skill. God’s Word gives me information so I know things about Him and myself and this world that I would otherwise not know. It even gives me skills I would not otherwise have.

Reproof means an expression of criticism or censure. The Bible tells me when I’m doing the wrong thing, but it also offers correction to improve or replace my mistakes. No good to just know that I slipped up unless I also know what to do differently. I need to repent but also change my ways.

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. (2 Timothy 2:21)

For that, God’s Word gives training in righteousness, meaning it works in my mind and morals to conform my life to the life of Jesus Christ. This is so I will be complete or equipped with every necessary component for a task or for the purpose God gives me.

This book is like the instruction manual that comes with cars and other complex machinery, or a complete how-to manual for cooking or other involved tasks. It is everything I need to live in the will of God. Other verses build on that:

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

Why is the Bible so helpful? It is because God is in the writing and in the reading and interpretation of it. It was not produced merely by human hand. 2 Peter 1:20-21 say that, “No prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Another reason for studying the Bible is related to other ways of learning. If I simply ‘let the pastor do it’ or rely on Christian authors, commentaries and other sources about the Bible as my teaching resources, I will miss out in the completeness that is in Scripture.

Jesus says in Luke 6:40, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Human teachers are incomplete in their knowledge and understanding. We don’t know everything about any area of learning never mind the complex study of who God is and what He is like. Other people cannot speak to my deepest needs because most of them have no clue what those needs are, never mind how to address them. We don’t fully understand ourselves either. But God does.

O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. (Psalm 139:1–6)

Who better to counsel, guide and instruct me for life from than the One who created me and knows best how I work!

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Lord Jesus, I’m so thankful that You make Yourself available to me, that I can talk to You and hear You speak, and that Your Word is better than telephones, email, texting, or even a classroom. What a wonder that the God who spoke the world into existence also speaks to me, a mere speck on the grandeur of creation. You are totally amazing and I am totally delighted that You created an instruction manual that is also a love letter — just for Your people.

Today’s thankful list . . .

The Word of God.

Being able to read it and hear God speak.

His correction and guidance for all of life.

Bible study that is relevant to life.

A quiet day that started with a skiff of snow and ended with sunshine.

Chicken noodle soup.

“Guard your heart for out of it flows the issues of life”

In our part of the world, there are many issues being debated with great furor. This always happens when an election is looming, but some of them start long before the politicians step in. These issues include climate change, carbon emissions, the use and movement of fossil fuels, abortion, gender differences, human rights, and a host of other topics. When I first started writing for a newspaper (several years ago) I decided to keep out of controversial discussions that were not covered by the Word of God. He says nothing about street drugs, vaping, pipelines and most political issues. These verses are one reason for my decision:

Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:23–26)

The other reason is that God deals with the source of our problems, the human heart. Jesus called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

The disciples didn’t get it so He explained, “Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.” (Matthew 15:10–20)

All the activities of life come from within. Sin and self can rule if I let them, but because I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, He also lives there. My responsibility is to live according to His way and His way is not to be embroiled in issues that come from the self-centered old nature, that former way of thinking that is fearful, wants to protect myself and my opinions, cares nothing for what others think, and has no interest in God or His plans. In other words, don’t get caught up in arguing about issues.

Further, the issues that people argue about are under the control of the Lord. He is sovereign and using what happens for His purposes. Since His ways are higher than my ways, and since He does not always reveal to me what He is doing, I have no business or basis for forming and blasting out opinions, even on many theological issues. I only know for certain what He says, and even then, I can misinterpret Him. Far better to tread carefully.

The sad part is that we have a spiritual enemy that specializes in lies. In all these controversies, I can see him tossing in his lies and confusing people. Much of what is debated is tinged with fear, and I know God is not the author of fear (2 Timothy 1:7) or confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). He is not stirring the controversy.

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Lord God, I’m thankful that truth is solid ground and You are reliable. You may not give me the full picture on any given issue, but You do reassure me that You are in charge and that I don’t need to debate opinions and take sides. Eventually the issues will be resolved, not by debate or human research but by Your will being done. I’m content to rest in You. Winning a debate is not nearly as interesting or as challenging as being kind to everyone and patiently enduring evil. You ask me to gently correct lies and focus on the truth. Grant me wisdom and the grace to be that kind of person so that those embroiled in issues can see what is of primary importance — the state of their heart before You.

Today’s thankful list . . .

The freedom to worship Jesus.

Meeting new people today at brunch in our church.

The ability to watch world rugby on television from the other side of the world.

Sunday afternoon naps.

Prayer tonight with other believers.

Answered prayer.

When God speaks . . . things happen!

When the Bible speaks of the “word” of God, it uses at least two terms. One is logos which is a bit hard to define. Generally, it refers to a message from God using Scripture (the written word) and Jesus (the living Word)

The other word is rhema or variations of it. It means a specific word that addresses the need of the hearer. It is about those times when God speaks directly to the heart. Christians know how this works. We hear a sermon (logos) but there is part of it that is ‘just for me’ as if the speaker and I are the only ones in the room. This is rhema. It also happens when reading the Bible and thoughts jump off the page that answer my questions, confirm my faith, rebuke my sin, encourage me to trust Jesus, or simply bless me in the situation I am in.

Both are powerful. Paul was in prison when he wrote some of his epistles, but prison did not keep the Word of God from his lips. In several places he assured his readers that even though he was bound in chains, the Word of God was not hindered.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (2 Timothy 2:8–10)

But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. (2 Timothy 4:17)

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. (Philippians 1:12–14)

There is another sense that the Word of God is not mere words sitting in a page. When God speaks, He is not talking idly; His words have purpose. In the beginning, He spoke the world into existence. He spoke to Abraham and this man believed Him and became known as the father of faith. Others also heard God before him and believed, like Enoch and Noah as did millions since then.

The Word of God is powerful, not because it is a great work of literature or because it is beloved by God’s people, but because He wrote it and uses it to talk to us. The New Testament says, “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21)

Because this ‘word’ is from God, it will do what God says. Again, He does not speak without purpose:

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10–11)

As the NT says, this Word, specifically rhema, changes lives. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word (rhema) of Christ” (Romans 10:17) and through faith, people are changed: “You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23)

It also continually changes the lives of those who believe it and continue to read it:

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

For all this, I must keep on reading it, studying it, just never assuming I know it all, for even if I could memorize Genesis to Revelation, it is that rhema reality that makes it a conversation, not an academic exercise or a theological project. God talks to me. I hear Him in my heart and in His book (these two always agree) and He hears me whenever I speak to Him.

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Lord Jesus, You are the voice of God who came here in human form to reach into my silence and make all things new. What a blessing to know You and to know that what You say is vital and life changing. My heart is filled with joy because You speak.

Today’s thankful list . . .

God speaks!

A very long conversation with Him each day.

Today having a long conversation with our granddaughter who lives in another country.

Chocolate fudge, yum.

My hubby’s scars are healing wonderfully.