What about “God told me” claims?

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. 
Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. (John 11:45–54)

We went for a drive yesterday with no particular destination in mind, but after a short time, my hubby said, “It just came to me that we should stop at …” So we did and it turned out to be a good idea. 

Where do such ideas come from? I’ve been in book stores with no plans and a book almost speaks “Buy me” and it was an important read at the time. Or someone comes to mind that I should phone them, and they answered, “I’m so glad you called. I need to talk to you.”

The above text does not say anyone told Jesus that plans were being made to kill Him. However He knew it was not the right time and went into hiding in a place where they would not find Him. How did He know?

For Him and for all, God knows. King David understood this:

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. (Psalm 139:1–4)

God told David that He would inform him what he should do: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you” (Psalm 32:8) so why not Jesus? And why not me? 

But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! (Psalm 81:11–13)

A Christian woman told me of planning to mail something and driving a certain route to the post office. She heard an inner voice telling her to go another way. She argued and then went the way she planned. On that road she was hit by a semi and nearly died. After years of recovery, she knows how challenging it can be to listen.

The voice is not our ‘better half’ or ‘subconscious’ but the Holy Spirit. He knows what I think and how I plan. He knows the will of God for me. He also knows how stubborn I can be, or how proud, or whatever my reasoning is for not listening. This is Greek “rhema” not the term “logos” usually used for the word of God. 

Last night I came up with a plan for a quilt, then spent half the night dreaming of doing it. But I was doing it wrong. All night. It was not God's instruction but a warning? Or a reminder? I make plans for the day, or for a project, and God knows that I need His guidance for every step of it. He also knows what He wants for my day. Will I listen and submit? Or do my own thing and wake up too late? Or like my friend who never made it to the post office? Rhema is a personal word for a need of the moment, not to be added to Scripture or applied to other people, but must fit with Scripture and the revealed will of God. 

Jesus, listening to Your voice all the time and for every detail can be as important as personal safety or less vital as doing a task well (or even doing it at all). Keep me tuned it. The day has only a few hours. What I do with that time could make a difference in my life or the life of others. Help me to listen, pay attention, and do what You say. It may not make sense at the time, but listening and submitting can make a huge difference compared to the vanity of thinking I know better.

Is the end close?

And they asked (Jesus), “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. (Luke 21:7–19)

I know a person that seldom listens well. It seems she is busy planning her response and when it comes, the evidence of not listening is sometimes annoying, or at best, humorous. Really listening is an art. 

That said, I’ve written about the folly of trying to predict the day Jesus will come back. He said that even He does not know when His orders will send Him. We are just supposed to be ready. Is it possible that this description is telling Christians what to be ready for? And saying how important to listen rather than try to plan what will happen.

As I look at the list, the first item says many will come in His name claiming to be Him. Has that happened yet? Being ready means knowing Him so well that I’m not fooled by imposters. Listen.

Then it says there will be many wars with nations rising against nations and this must happen. He does not say why this is necessary, but I think it is one way people will realize their need of God, and Christians will see Him using the tumult of war to draw people to Himself. This tells me how to pray and not be terrified. Listen.

He also says there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. While minor quakes happen frequently, it seems major quakes are increasing. Statistically, this is debatable, but it also tells me not to be anxious about things that only God can control. I cannot understand how He can use horrible events to draw others to Himself, but I can listen.

That most dreaded threat of severe persecution, even from family members, has been happening for centuries. Is it increasing? Reports say that approximately 388 million Christians face high levels of persecution, representing an increase of 8 million people compared to prior counts. Being ready involves being so certain that the worst others can do results in the best that can happen to me!

As for the actual return of Jesus, all these events signal it will happen, particularly the fear, but this is not to be feared because: 

“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:25–28)

Jesus, the daily news is often shocking, but it should not be fearful. As it unfolds, it verifies what You predicted and tells me to be ready, even excited. I will see You face to face and everything that causes fear will no longer exist. Come, Lord Jesus, come.

 

One mouth, two ears…

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words. When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear. (Ecclesiastes 5:1–7)

Any effort in life to be prosperous (a dream) requires much business (or busyness) which this writer compares to the hasty and prolific words of a fool who talks too much. Another writer compares this thought this way:

Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22)

This is like those who busily do what they think is serving God without actually listening to or obeying Him. They go through the motions and appear to be devout, but their actions are mere ritual. This was condemned then, and by Jesus, and today often goes undetected or sometimes applauded. 

Those who “serve God” in this manner perhaps have vowed to do so, yet when doing so, are doing what they assume is wanted rather than what God accepts. As one writer says, the truth that it is more acceptable to God is that one should go to Him to hear the Law taught and expounded, than to offer a formal sacrifice of ‘good’ works. This is the offering of a godless man and in proverbial language called “the sacrifice of fools” (Proverbs 21:27).

This same writer also says that the “fools” who offer unacceptable sacrifices do not know how to worship God heartily and properly. Thinking to please Him with their formal acts of devotion, they fall into a grievous sin. 

In my thinking, this is a failure to recognize the difference between walking in the Spirit and walking in the flesh. Instead of glorifying God who uses us like a hand in a glove, the glove gets credit for cooperating with the hand instead of moving with it in obedience and with the recognition of its own helplessness. 

. . . .  though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:6–10)

Paul knew the glory of few words and obedience because he knew his own helplessness and the foolishness of talking too much. He sought the will of God and was told his power was in helplessness, not in the many good things that God's hand did with him. His ‘dreams’ were successful because he feared God and listened. 

Lord Jesus, every day something happens requiring Your instruction. In my response to these events, I talk big about what I will do, but You urge me to shut up and listen. Then You surprise me with Your solutions. These are lessons in what it means to fear You and listen. You are the most amazing God and I am blessed to be weak and listen, rather than be ‘strong’ and do what I think is best.

 

Danger of not paying attention…

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” (Proverbs 1:22–33)

Before reading this, I had a discussion with someone about a medical problem I’ve had for years. It has been diagnosed, treated, but has no cure. All that can be done is easing the symptoms. As I age, those symptom treatments are not working well and I’m wondering if there are any other ways to deal with them.

However this other person thinks I should go to a doctor who can identify the cause and treat the symptoms, seeming to think that I’ve not ‘been there, done that.’ This section from Proverbs reminds me that those who will not listen to other people are very unlikely to listen to God either.

Being a ‘know it all’ is a dangerous self-view. I know because I’ve ‘been there, done that’ also. It is pride when I’m right, but mostly a foolish way to think because it puts me and my ideas above the wisdom of God. How foolish is that? 

Job said some wise things, yet he was not like God, and the Lord challenged his so-called ideas. He started with this then essentially challenged this man to compare himself with God:

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his? Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor. Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud and abase him. Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand. Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below. Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you. (Job 40:6–14)

In other words, if he could do even this much that God can do, then God would agree with him.

I have no doubt that God can cure my medical problem, yet I also have no doubt that He has His reasons for not doing so. I trust His wisdom, not mine nor that of the critic who told me I’m not going to the right doctor. 

Jesus, this conversation and those verses could be directed to the ‘know it all’ who gives medical advice without listening, but instead You use them to tell me not to be a smarty that thinks I’ve got all things figured out. You are a constant surprise, and one of them is the peace You give as I accept that I’m not going to live forever, and perhaps not even be comfortable in the last years of life. Your peace surpasses all understanding, and it will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7) There is no doctor or treatment that can do that!

God cares about the details!

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” 
And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” 
And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. 
And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away. And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 
And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer. (2 Samuel 5:17–25)

Two major lessons here for me. One is to ask the Lord about the challenges that lie before me. Do I fight them? Or do I not? Some of them involve others and that battle might be a training period for them and I need to stay out of it. Some may need supporting prayers. I cannot assume that all sickness needs healing or or every sin I see needs rebuking. I need to ask God if I’m to go to war and change things, or not.

The other lesson is more subtle, a battle plan that involves strategy and timing based on God's instructions and includes waiting. The first battle is about courage; the second is about deep trust and listening.

Yesterday’s sermon included instruction like these two. First a general encouragement to speak about Jesus to others; then more details about who to put in that category, then and suggestions for ways to do it and when. This message was out of a NT passage about winning the battle for souls, to me an obvious parallel to David’s OT battle against the enemies of God's people in a physical sense.

Jesus, I’m aware of the war for souls, and of the many ways those spiritual enemies try to thwart me from even asking You what to do, never mind doing it. Keep me alert to Your voice and how to fight so that You are glorified. Grant the details and keep my ears open and my whole being busy doing what You tell me to do.

Affirming God’s will

There is a voice that tells me I must do everything… share the truths God gives me, serve in the church kitchen, teach Bible classes, encourage those who need it, give generously, be a leader, show great compassion, do all that is put in front of me. At my age and stage in life, my energy level questions that voice.

Praying about it, I read, “Try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10) and “make the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16), and this one too: 

Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. (Ephesians 5:24)

I remember the woman who argued that her hubby was not treating her as Jesus treats His church and then read this verse: “However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband” (Ephesians 5:33). At the time, I thought she didn’t respect her hubby very much, but after years of seeing spousal abuse, even in the church, this is not as simple or straight-forward as it seemed then.

For example, I know a man who recently abandoned his wife and family and ran off with another man’s wife. Jesus isn’t like that, does not do that to His bride, nor would we respect Him if He did. However, the Bible tells women this:

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external. . . . but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. 

Sobering too, yet then it adds, “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:1–7)

Both spouses have challenges. Neither of us can do what God commands without His strength and patience. I cannot advise the wife of the man who abandoned her, but I can pray for my own perplexities, particularly what God wants me to do (I cannot do everything) but can see that if demands and the will of God are in conflict, no matter where those demands come from, I need to obey God and watch out that my many ideas and ambitions are not overriding His will.

Today’s reading winds up here, and affirms to me all I need to know…

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. . . . fasten on the belt of truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness, and the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith. . . . extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. . . . keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. . . .” for boldness in those who proclaim it… (Ephesians 6:10–20)

Ephesians winds up saying to do whatever I do “for the Lord’s sake” and in His grace and wisdom. It isn’t so much about what I do but why I do it. If any activity does not glorify God, it is not from Him.

PRAY: This answers the questions I had this morning and shows me how the enemy attacks what I already know. Satan would rather I worry about being a total failure instead of remembering that You are all I need and that You have already given me all You want me to do: be a godly wife, pray about everything, and listen for any further instructions.

 

God is not finished with me yet…

 

Our group Bible study is in Romans, but we often bring in thoughts from other parts of the NT, particularly the conflict we have between that old nature of sin and the new nature God gave us of Christ and His righteousness. 

This morning’s reading describes how the freedom we have in Christ must not be interpreted as freedom to do whatever we want — because that “I want” is often an old nature thing. As one of our group said, learning to walk in the Spirit means learning to listen to God. My ‘good’ ideas are not always His ideas.

Part of the problem is that the Bible often describes sin in extremes and the desires of the flesh as a list of gross activities that most Christians try to avoid. I know I want to serve God but the ideas I have can be motivated by a desire for self-glory, but even that desire is fleshy and can injure the faith of others.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5:13–18)

The law of God is helpful to discern the bad stuff that creeps in, but because some of that is more subtle than the lists, I can miss it as being fleshy. I’m prompted to look at the list of spiritual fruit and let it help me pinpoint some of the opposites.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23)

Love’s opposite is usually hate, but it could be ignoring needs that love would otherwise supply. Joy’s opposite can be anxiety and worry. Peace can easily be replaced by being over-burdened for others, which could be interpreted as a godly thing even though it can also be lack of trust in God. Patience easily gets replaced by “I must do something” when God is not asking me to do anything but trust Him. Again, listening to His voice is really important!

Kindness is an action. Doing nothing could be the opposite, or being mean, or gossiping about the needy person. Goodness has similar fleshy counterparts including ignoring those who could use my help, or a call, or even a hug or a smile. The opposite of faithfulness could sound like, “Oh, I forgot” or other forms of apology about ignoring responsibilities. Gentleness and harshness seem obvious, but just the lack of it says much. 

One dictionary says this: Gentleness refers to a virtue that characterizes one’s internal disposition or spirit. This term is  exclusive to Christians and never used to describe a person outside of Christ. It is accompanied by “love” and precedes “self-control.” James 3:13 relates it to the quality of being “wise” and Ephesians 4:2 puts it alongside “humility.” It is the opposite of being hostile or pugnacious — looking for a fight. Gentleness is required of the Lord’s servants to instruct “opponents with gentleness.” From this, I can see that gentleness is about being humble rather than assertive or pushy.

Self-control is often considered something ‘self’ does, but this is a fruit of the Spirit so it’s opposite sounds like “I couldn’t help it” — or any excuse of the flesh for doing something that is selfish and sinful. The passage goes on to add this: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”(Galatians 5:25–26) The flesh opposes this too — with pride, or with trying to get a rise out of others, or being discontent from a longing to have what others have.

Paul sums it up: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:7–9) Fleshy living yields more of the same. Spirit-filled living reveals that I have eternal life.

PRAY: Lord, this exercise in words and their opposites convicts me. Doing good involves my whole being. Sometimes I think I’m dedicated wholly to You, but again realize You still have much to expose and cleanse out of my life.

Keep Praying

 

One way to understand prayer is the man who loved hearing a symphony orchestra on the radio so much that he bought a violin to play along with it. His first attempts were dismal, yet he kept going. Eventually, his notes matched the music of the masters. In the same way, my prayers are off compared to the wonder of what God is doing, yet as I continue to pray, I find myself more in tune with what God shows me of His will and His activities.

Yet there remains this mystery of Him choosing some for faith and eternal life, but not everyone. If His choice was based on His knowledge that they would believe, or not chosen until they had faith, this would reverse what the Bible says that God elects people and people do not elect God. People are not chosen because they believe, but they believe because they are chosen. There is no way to lay His action of election on anything but the absolute sovereignty of God.

For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. (Romans 9:15–16)

The secrets of his counsels are too deep for my feeble mind. If I try to know the reason of why He picks some and not others, I fall into a bottomless pit. Yet at the same time, I cast myself down at His feet, with a full and willing submission to His sovereign choices. In other words, I not only listen to the music but desire that my prayers and thoughts are aligned with it. 

The NT tells me how to play my violin. I must listen and agree with what He is doing. He tells me to work at what I want (to be in harmony with Him) yet “it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) My understanding of the notes determine how my life sounds, but it is God who does the work — for His good pleasure!

Another way to understand His “music” is to understand it as His “covenant of grace” which is music of joyful and precious hope. Charnock says it refers to the free decision and oath of God to employ all His omnipotence, wisdom, and love to rescue His people from sin and misery. It is wholly initiated and carried through by God. It cannot fail. 

I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. (Jeremiah 32:40)

This is God's music and was sealed in His heart before I even existed:

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:4–10)
(He) saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. (2 Timothy 1:9)

PRAY: Oh Lord, what a foundation for eternal security! You do it all and You never fail in Your purposes and will. I miss my notes and yet Your delightful music plays on without error or ceasing, carrying me with it to my promised destiny. I do not understand why me, but I do love  to listen to all the notes that You sound out and often allow me to hear and enjoy.

What gets lugged into each day?

 

Since Piper’s devotional for today was the last of a long one split into three days, I had another look at what Callaway had to say in his little book. He hit me with his description of taking too much stuff in his golf bag and how that was ruining his game. 

“I’ve got the full set, plus a driving iron. I’ve got an oversized 1-wood named Bertha and a ball retriever in case she misfires. My pockets are heavy with coins and ball markers and tees and car keys. The mosquitos where I live show up on radar screens, so I throw in a generous bottle of repellant. And sunscreen. And Band-Aids. One can’t be over-prepared, so I bring along bottled water, aspirin, and a knife that doubles as a club head cleaner, a cleat tightener, a bottle-top remover, and an alarm clock. I keep an extra jacket in my bag, too. Rain pants. An umbrella. Club head covers. And a coupon book that expired last September. Lugging all these accessories around the course made the rounds miserable, so I bought a small pull-cart to help me. Now I have a place to carry two more pop cans, the scorecard, four tees, and some extra pencils. If this continues, I’ll have to buy another cart.”

Of course this relates to life. While he compared it to “picking up a load of fear” and filling his mind with concerns he was not meant to bear, I compared it to my to-do list. Today it has a shopping errand, some laundry, email to answer, update two blogs, send a gift to someone, purge the storage room, read portions of three books, work on two quilts, plus the usual meals and household chores not listed. Never mind any interruptions, phone calls, or other things not written down that might pop up. Yikes.

Yesterday’s sermon was from this familiar passage:

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38–42)

I’ve always considered myself a ‘Mary’ but see how easily I slip into being “anxious and troubled about many things.” Even if I never forget to have devotions, how many times do I really listen to Jesus before starting anything else? The pastor stressed the importance of choosing the best portion before doing even the good things on our agenda. For me, it was helpful because seeking His will makes a difference in how the day goes. For one thing, it seems longer, and I make less mistakes. However, he also said that listening is not just waiting for my turn to talk or to make excuses for not having time to listen.

Callaway’s writing pushes me to consider that long list. What does Jesus say about it? Is some of it not important or non-essential? Am I burdening myself with extras ‘just in case’ rather than trusting Him for whatever might come up?

Of course lunch had to be made. The doing of it was not Martha’s problem. He spoke to her about her anxiety and attitude toward her work. Mary was being settled by taking instruction first. She no doubt helped Martha after that, but not before listening to the One who wants His servants to be at peace and find joy in all that we do.

PRAY: Thank You Jesus for all that You teach me. I sit and listen at church, yet know that listening ought to be a 24/7 attitude. You want me to know what You know and think how You think about everything, not just my list. Who knows… You might take things off it or even add things to it, but at the end of the day, knowing I’ve listened to You and followed Your instructions results in great rewards for making that choice.

Two Ears — one mouth…

Other than an occasional vehicle going by, or the faraway sound of a siren (and only if a window is open), this new home of ours is quiet and in a quiet community. Oh, the clocks tick, and the house settles, and the TV might be on, but silence is golden.

This morning I’m reading from Phil Callaway’s little book called, “With God on the Golf Course: Outdoor Insights Pocket Devotionals.” Phil is a funny man but wise and his topic on this reading is the lost art of listening. While he relates it to the golf course, I relate it to my home. So quiet here too!

I need such a place. Like Phil, I value the stillness for this is also a spiritual practice important to the wonder of learning to listen to the voice of God. Today’s messy world offers few motivations to listen. It is noisy, with much bustling about and for some loony reason, we get the notion that busyness and even hurrying and noise are measures of a productive life. God says otherwise: 

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling, (Isaiah 30:15)

I love the first part and yet know the last part. I can be alone and in this quiet place but there are times when I get out in the noise and don’t want to go home or escape noise’s captivity.
Yet God tells me to listen, in traffic, in crowds, when the TV is blaring, at a soccer game, in the library where children are allowed to chatter. I must learn it at home or really listening to Him might never happen.

Callaway points out that “Adam and Eve refused God’s counsel and were banished from the Garden Golf and Country Club.” Since that awful event and no matter how much God blessed them, His people turned to idols. Even their leaders refused to listen.

But as (God’s prophet) was speaking, the king said to him, “Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.” (2 Chronicles 25:16)

How many times have I done the same thing? Too many and too shameful to think about. It is bad enough to go ahead with my own plans when God says no. It is just as much a sin to think that listening is merely waiting my turn to speak, or to defend my actions with excuses.

Of course God honors those who listen because His definition of listening is not just hearing what He says but doing it. Consider His letters to the churches in Revelation that ended with: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” or how David listened when confronted with his sin and was called “a man after God’s own heart.”

God wants me to listen, not merely hear Him. He may be telling me to stand up and speak, or He may be saying to shut up and pay attention. Either way, genuine listening involves action that obeys what He says. 

PRAY: Lord, help me have a heart that longs to hear Your voice. Keep working to make me alert to you and teachable. You know my tendency to be distracted by not only noise but everything. I’m not golfing any more, but let this quiet home enhance my ability to hear You and do what You say and not let the clamor in my mind or any other noise rule rather than the quietness and confidence that You so graciously provide. 

The prayers God answers. . . .

Are there any ‘human event’ illustrations to explain prayer? The only one I can think of is the man who bought a violin and learned to play along with the orchestra he listened to on the radio. The orchestra played without his initial mistakes and screeching affecting their music, but as the man listened and followed, he learned the right notes and began playing sounds that matched what he heard.

Today, I read that, “In essence, prayer is not about changing God's mind, but about aligning ourselves with His will and participating in His plan for the world. It's a way to connect with God, receive His guidance, and experience His blessings as He works through our prayers.”

Before our 2024 family reunion, the skies were filled with wildfire smoke. The days were unbearable hot, and on the way to the event, the wind was blowing the grass flat. Before that day, I’d prayed about the air and the heat, then the sky was clear and the temperature just right. So I prayed again, “God, You control the weather. What about that wind?” In less than five minutes, it stopped, and the weather was perfect for the three days of our family gathering. 

Only God… and yet I realize that had I not prayed, His will would be done anyway, but I would have missed a note. Instead, I had the wonderful experience of being in tune with God. 

Some are certain that our prayers are vital or God does not move. They cite verses like: “You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.” (James 4:2) But what is the reason for not asking? If I am wanting something in a selfish way, haven’t I listened to the music long enough to know God does not want to fulfill all my selfish desires? Such prayer is playing the wrong notes and expecting the orchestra to play it with me. I do not pull (or pluck) God’s strings. His will is perfect and nowhere does His Word affirm that my prayers are vital to His playlist.

Instead, as I am learning, my prayers are not my plans but to fit in with what God has planned. “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance,” says Martin Luther, “but laying hold of his willingness.”

How could I think to change His mind — as if He is wanting the wrong thing?  A.W. Pink puts it this way: “There is no need whatever for God to change His designs or alter His purpose, for the all-sufficient reason that these were framed under the influence of perfect goodness and unerring wisdom. . . . To affirm that God changes his purpose is either to impugn his goodness or to deny his eternal wisdom… The sovereign God hangs the universe on the prayers of His people, and then inspires and empowers us to pray.”

I pray for many things, but never for any change in God, even though I fear too many Christians pray for their will to be done rather than His. How sad to view God as a genie in the sky who bows to our every wish. Prayer should reverse that idea so that I am bowing to His every desire!

PRAY: Lord, enable me to know You so well and listen to You so closely that I hear every note and know how You want me to pray. I want my words in alignment with Your heart. I want to be tuned in, not playing any tune other than what fits with the music of Your sovereign will because I totally trust that You know far better (and far more) than I do about all things on my prayer list. May all of us who follow You listen and respond in alliance with Your gracious will.

 

Being in listening mode. . . .

We took my dad for a hearing test. Mom said to the doctor, “Sometimes I say something and he seems to not have heard what I said.” Dad turned to the doctor with a twinkle in his eye and said, “Don’t you do that to your wife too?”

We chuckle at that, but there are times when spouses want to use a brick to the head when ignored, especially if the communication is vital.

It works concerning the voice of God as well. He says, “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (James 1:18) and “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) But the question is if hearing the Word produces faith, how come not everyone who hears it is saved?

John Piper and many others would say that God’s ‘brick to the head’ is the gift of faith given through grace. He imparts new life and in that instant the ability to hear is also given.

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:1–10)

While these verses only imply the way grace provides both faith and the saving knowledge of Christ, this idea of both being given at the same time explains why many theologians say that the gospel message given to us from God is irresistible. We not only hear it but are given ears to hear at the same time.

The downside is like my dad’s joking remark to the doctor — that those to whom God speaks can be in a ‘I’m not listening’ mode. Pharaoh prior to the Exodus was like that. The Bible says he hardened his heart, a very similar description of someone who refuses to listen. I do it when someone says something I don’t want to hear. It could be bad language, a coarse joke, or even a request that I’ve no intention of answering. It might go around inside my head, but without a response, whoever spoke might as well not have said it.

If I do that with God, my spiritual life takes a nosedive into deafness and even darkness. Because Jesus promised to save me from sin, He will take measures to turn on the lights and turn up the volume. He has ways of communicating that do not involve words, such as circumstances or the actions of others. As He ‘speaks’ through whatever communication method He chooses, He makes me realize that my bad attitude is no joke. If I don’t listen to Him, I will listen to my own ideas, or the world’s ways, or the devil’s lies. It does not take long to experience the folly of being deaf to God.

Faith does come by hearing. The more I listen, the more my response to life and its quirks and foibles is trusting God with everything. Besides, unlike the noisy chatter that might be happening all around me, God never says anything useless or inane. His words are life-giving, inspiring, helpful, and a great blessing.

Some families play “I spy God” and share what they see Him doing. Another interesting activity is “I hear God” and sharing what He is saying to us, including what He is asking us to do!

PRAY: Jesus, as I meet with prayer partners today, remind me to share with them the answers to both questions and ask them to do the same. We are learning to be better listeners and also excited to hear You speak to us. Thank You.

Hearing His Voice

 

One television show has a character who speaks with enthusiasm but his voice is so garbled that most viewers cannot understand a word. The show’s main characters do, and oddly enough, close captioning gets most of it, but even without knowing what he is saying, his gestures and emotions Sometimes give clues.

I’m glad Jesus is not like that. He says,

Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live….Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice…. (John 5:25-28)

…. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out…. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.… My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:3-27)

Do we need to learn it? Or do we just know it? Today’s reading says that we learn to hear it through Scripture, providential circumstances, and through a divine inner conviction, and the more we obey, the clearer His voice becomes.

Jesus did not say that. He says we just know it. In my experience, the problem is not lack of knowing but lack of listening. I can think of countless examples of ‘just knowing’ I was supposed to do something. Sadly, I also have many examples of ‘just knowing’ but not listening, either because I didn’t want to do it or I wanted something other than what Jesus was telling me. My lack of obedience did not dull my hearing, but it did and still does hinder my spiritual growth.

The voice of a stranger could refer to Satan with his lies or to false teachers with their persuasions. It could also refer to my flesh or old nature with its I-wants and pride that assumes I have a better plan. I’ve also had times when that voice was a whisper and my way simply shouted so loud that I didn’t want to hear God. Those are the times that I learned lessons the hard way — by making foolish decisions and doing the wrong thing, only to realize later that God knows best.

A good point from the reading is to make sure His voice is His voice before I move ahead. Sometimes my thoughts sound good but they are not His thoughts. He says:

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9)

This is why Bible reading and careful study are so important. Not only do Christians make errors by not reading, but by assumptions. For instance, no verses say there were three wise men, not a big deal yet a mistake due to lack of research.

PRAY: Lord, I’m glad that You speak into my life. Today, I have clear direction from You regarding today’s to-do items and the importance of diligence in them. I also hear You when talking with friends about their prayer requests and later as You remind me to pray. I’m prone to make lists of things so I will not forget, yet Your voice reminds me and keeps me on track because I am prone to forgetting to look at my lists! Not only that, You often surprise me with Your words of peace and comfort when I get in a dither or am over-tired. Thank You so much for talking to me and with me, for making Your thoughts known, and for directing my words and actions too.

Am I Listening?

 
The popular idea of each person having a ‘love language’ reveals that I feel most loved when engaged and listened to in conversation. Gifts are nice, as are hugs, but communication is my thing.

One of our friends is a lousy listener. Any clear explanation brings questions from this person that reveal her ears heard but she didn’t really listen. I had relatives who did this and finally understood that each sentence they heard reminded them of something familiar from their own life — so that is where their mind went. It was their way of trying to relate to the speaker.

The annoying part is that many ‘listeners’ respond with something about themselves rather than a, “Oh that is interesting. Tell me more” kind of answer. If too many ‘listeners’ do this, I generally stop talking and try to do for them what they didn’t do for me.

Listening is important. A young woman told me God saves us because of our good works. I had her read this aloud:

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

Then I asked what it said about how people are saved. She said, “Oh, by doing good works.” She was not listening, even to her own words as she read.

What goes on in the minds of poor listeners? Several possibilities include: a desire to talk rooted in a need to prove self-worth, dismissing the importance of what others say, self-defensive, not really caring about what the other person is saying, using the speakers words as a reason to talk about themselves, and so on. These sound negative and from my own life I can see how self-centered a poor listener can be. Been there, done that.

1 Corinthians 13 is called the love chapter in the NT. Two verses say: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.” (1 Corinthians 13:4–5)

While this does not say love is a good listener, these words indicate qualities that apply. For instance, a good listener is patient and lets others finish speaking rather than being so busy thinking of a response that they stop listening to what the other person is saying. Love is also kind indicating that a loving listener cares about what the other person says and will express that rather than jumping to memories of their own life and experiences.

Pride can be at the root of not listening too. That means a proud person can be bored by what others have to say thinking their own life is more interesting and want to boast about a similar experience. If not, they may envy the experiences of others and play a “I can top that” game. If someone is rude and refuses to listen to me, that is not an excuse to stop listening to them.

I’m glad God is a good listener. He is not bored when I pray, or half-listening and thinking how He will answer me, or judging my words, or being rude. If people in my life do not listen, I can run to Jesus and know that He gives me His full attention.

The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry…. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:15–18)

Sometimes Christians feel like God is not listening. Job had that problem too, yet he also knew differently:

Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat! I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; he would pay attention to me. There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge. “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him; on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. (Job 23:3–10)

The ‘silence’ of God can build patience. If it seems He is not listening it is folly to conclude He does not love me. I must not wander away because He seems no longer interested in me. Those negatives are lies from the enemy who told Eve that God didn’t really care about her, and is still using the same lie to tempt me to sin. I cannot measure His truth or faithfulness by my lack, or by the lack in others.

PRAY: Jesus, I can see my own failures to be a good listener. I get impatient with self-centered boasting and me-me-me stories, but must remember that the habit of poor listening can go both ways. Enable me to be the kind of listener that You are, always there, always paying attention, and always connecting with others who are sharing what is on their mind. Help me be a good example of Your wonderful ability to be listening one hundred percent when others are speaking to me.

Quick to Listen

 

ADHD manifests itself in several ways. For one of our grandchildren, it affected his hearing, or at least seemed to. When I told him to do something, I’d ask him to repeat what I said. He did, but it soon became obvious that he totally forgot it. I learned that when his eyes had a certain look, speaking was useless. If he was doing something dangerous, calling out was useless; I had to physically stop him. He was too preoccupied to hear.

MacArthur’s devotional for today is about that problem. God’s people can be slow of hearing . . .

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; (James 1:19)

If I am doing something sinful, God will speak to me about it and I’m to have that ‘quick to hear’ attitude toward His Word. Sometimes I don’t and He will take action to get my attention in other ways, but that old saying is true: God’s Word will keep me from sin or sin will keep me from God’s Word.

James wrote that I am to be joyful in trials because God uses them to help me grow. In those trials, and always, I’m to ask for wisdom which He freely gives. But what if I don’t listen? Experience and observation reveal that I will fall into temptation and sin, usually the temptation to feel sorry for myself, be angry or upset about my suffering and grumble in complaint, or to tell God what to do, instead of asking Him for a godly perspective on my circumstances.

Having a godly perspective means listening. What is God saying to me in those trials? I need to read His Word and listen to find out, but at this point, many Christians abandon the Word of God and are not quick to hear. Instead, we can become quick to speak our ‘I wants’ and quick to anger that our comfort has been disturbed.

As today’s devotional says, being “quick to hear” means I do not disregard or fight against God’s Word but give it my full attention. In trials or complex decisions, I haven’t a clue why I’m experiencing these things, but trusting God means realizing He uses all things for my good (Romans 8:28-29) and if I listen, He may simply tell me what is going on. I’m not to be like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, whom Jesus described as “foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken.” (Luke 24:25)

The Word of God is the way God ministers to my need. Turning away from it because I don’t like what it says is foolishness, far worse than the problems of ADHD.

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7–11)

As the next verses say, scripture helps me discern my errors and avoid sin that only gets me in trouble. Also, it 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) Not reading it leaves me with only my fleshy notions and worldly ideas to guide me . . . and I will not experience the very best that Jesus promises to give me.

PRAY: Lord, I love the words of the psalmist who said: Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. (Psalm 119:97–104) Guard this attitude in me and keep me always hungering and listening to everything that You say.

READ: Psalm 19 considering the way the psalmist describes God’s Word and the benefits it brings. Then read Proverbs 3 and listen for more reasons to be quick to listen.