Are You Actively Listening for God?
Good Morning Friends,
Things go wrong in life and some of the wrong things happen because of our attitude and our seeking to claim that which is not ours instead of sharing in the love. Then at other times things go wrong so that God can show the power of grace when we hunger for the Word. So today we contemplate those still small voices and whispers of insight God would have us hear from scripture in application in our interactions with others. Today we are about seeking God and attending to the lessons we are to learn. Are You Actively Listening for God?
Scripture:Bottom of Form You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger;
James 1:19 (NRSV)
Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to the one who searches for it.
Proverbs 11:27 (NRSV)
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Romans 12:9-18 (NRSV)
And Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.”
Amos 7:12-13 (NRSV)
“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land-not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it. “In that day “the lovely young women and strong young men will faint because of thirst.
Amos 8:11-13 (NIV)
Message: There is a famine in the church today among the young and not so young, and it is a famine of ignorance of the Word of God. But moreover there is a famine in its understanding and implementation. I have a friend, Paul who preached on this topic from today’s scripture from Amos four years ago in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He went to preach in a country that has many problems that are truly matters of life and death. He did however incur something unexpected that could have been a problem if his attitude had not been right. His luggage was six days late so he had to borrow everything! But this made the trip even more of a spiritual blessing. For the situation prompted one of the officials to provide him clothes. Others in the community of faith there bought things for him as well. That which might have been an irritation and an annoyance became a blessing. Friends, when things go wrong, pray that it moves us to love sincerely, honor graciously and serve zealously… always abiding in Christ Jesus and the Word we have been given. It is to fill our heads and hearts. Then we might just remember that when bad things happen that God can use even evil for good. So also remember friends that you may be the closest person to Christ that the people you meet today will ever see. And if our active listening to God is in us it might just turn into active listening for others as it encourages them to learn and apply God’s word. Friends, the Word is slowly being taken out of our society. We see the effects of it in our changing culture. But that does not mean God is powerless to communicate. God has you and me and if the word of God is in us then the message will continue. It starts with being willing to listen.
Pray we listen for God signs as we read scripture. Pray we are patient readers and listeners. Pray we listen with the intent of love. Pray our listening prompts us to ask perceptive questions. Pray our listening diffuses unhealthy emotions and serves as a means of ministry. Pray our listening prepares us to say the right things. Pray our good listening reflects our relationship with God and is a means of grace to extend the fullness of life to other believers and beyond. Pray we abide in Christ and in the Word made flesh.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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