God is giving to us and talking to us all the time. And very often we miss it, because we are focused on other things.
Sometimes we are focused on a particular way a word from God should come. We expect a message from a prophet, or that particular prophet, when God speaks directly to our hearts, or through the Bible, or our children or a sunset. As Americans we get too used to bigger, louder or brighter. If we were with Elijah on Horeb, we would expect God to speak in the lightning or the earth quake. We would miss the small breath of wind.
Sometimes we are focused on a particular topic. We want God to speak to our felt needs. We want encouragement about difficult relationships at work or a disobedient child. We miss the message that we play too many video games, or are too critical, or about mission work in Bahrain. We would rather not take the road toward humility and service.
Sometimes we don’t hear God’s message, because we are focused on the church’s message. We would hope they would be the same, but they are not always the same. It does not take too much reading of Scripture to realize that God’s most important heart-action is love. In some churches, the most important heart-action is financial support of the church facilities and staff. In others, it is participation in its ministry. It is extremely easy to be trapped within the walls, and lose sight of what’s outside. Jesus had a focus on the Twelve. And he took the Twelve with him to focus on the world.
There are many things that block out God speaking to us. Too often we build these walls ourselves. We need silence and openness to hear rightly. Who knows what radical, powerful force may erupt from it.
Sometimes we are focused on a particular way a word from God should come. We expect a message from a prophet, or that particular prophet, when God speaks directly to our hearts, or through the Bible, or our children or a sunset. As Americans we get too used to bigger, louder or brighter. If we were with Elijah on Horeb, we would expect God to speak in the lightning or the earth quake. We would miss the small breath of wind.
Sometimes we are focused on a particular topic. We want God to speak to our felt needs. We want encouragement about difficult relationships at work or a disobedient child. We miss the message that we play too many video games, or are too critical, or about mission work in Bahrain. We would rather not take the road toward humility and service.
Sometimes we don’t hear God’s message, because we are focused on the church’s message. We would hope they would be the same, but they are not always the same. It does not take too much reading of Scripture to realize that God’s most important heart-action is love. In some churches, the most important heart-action is financial support of the church facilities and staff. In others, it is participation in its ministry. It is extremely easy to be trapped within the walls, and lose sight of what’s outside. Jesus had a focus on the Twelve. And he took the Twelve with him to focus on the world.
There are many things that block out God speaking to us. Too often we build these walls ourselves. We need silence and openness to hear rightly. Who knows what radical, powerful force may erupt from it.
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