Are We Listening and Believing That God Is Still Speaking To Us When We Share The Gospel?
Good Morning Friends,
There was a time in the history of the world when the Word of God was a very rare thing. One would think that the Word of God would never be out of season, however history indicates that it too has an ebb and flow. So too I think there is a season of miracles associated with the startup of new churches. We see the reality of both conditions in today’s lectionary text.
And it makes me wonder about how receptive we are to God in our lives after the intensity of the holidays and how much we are paying attention to our situations when we share the Gospel. So, I pose this question. Are We Listening and Believing That God Is Still Speaking To Us When We Share the Gospel?
Scripture: Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.
1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20 (NRSV)
As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Mark 1:29-39 (NRSV)
Message: So much of the hope of scripture is in the good news despite the not yet reality of the Kingdom. So, we ask God to speak. And we are listening even though it is uncomfortable. And as I think on this, I conclude, and perhaps you will as well, that we must trust that the Lord will speak and heal us and others as we share the good news. But this you need to know friends, God will be silent to those who do not want to listen. So, we are to anticipate God’s presence in scripture and in our interactions but realize that all will not want to hear. And for Christians the relevant thing for us to remember is how Jesus deals with this challenge. Today’s Gospel passage gives us an intimate look at the daily life of Jesus as he interacts with those who have yet to hear. In the reading, it becomes clear that we have physical as well as spiritual needs just as we have physical as well and spiritual ways of communicating. We see this in the ministry of Jesus and how he showed great love, grace, and compassion to shine a light on the message and caste out the darkness in people’s hearts. You see, Jesus always responded in power and grace and continues to meet our needs according to His gracious provision when we step out to serve while at the same time listening. This supernatural communication is what we are to be hoping for in our hearts. So, look for glimpses of grace and you might just hear the Lord in your heart. Recognize the timing, the troubles, the touch of life’s experiences and listen. Understand the momentum of the situations we face and the reality that there are people who have yet to hear the Gospel. Friends, there is a challenge to sharing to Gospel for those who are not listening for the Lord. That is why we like Jesus must be compassionate and gracious to all people realizing that people have needs that only Jesus can meet.
Pray we have visions of God. Pray we listen for God. Pray we not be so concerned about God hearing us as us hearing from God. Pray that even though we do not hear God’s voice or feel the divine touch, we still believe that the Lord can still speak to us and heal us. Pray we put ourselves in the hands of God. Pray God give us the strength and wisdom to serve. Pray we have faith in the Word of God even when it is so rare as to be thought a fantasy by those around us. Pray we genuinely feel hope. Pray we find meaning in the silence. Pray we realize that God speaks to the ones who are listening. Pray we show great love, grace and compassion as we share the good news. Pray God open all our hearts, minds and ears and hands to the work of the Kingdom to come. Pray we patiently keep listening even when doing so seems to have gone out of season.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 