Monday, March 19, 2007

Joshua 3 - 6; 1 Corinthians 4

Can’t help but think about them that ‘heard’ from God and how God used that hearing to confirm that He was with them, guiding them, ahead of them. And now do we, can we hear Him?
E. R. McManus tells a story in his book the Barbarian Way about his son going away to camp and getting into a fight with other boys and upon E’s visit, his son just wanting to go home with his dad.
Erwin talks about their conversation and the struggles of parenting wanting to do the ‘right’ thing for our kids. In the last conversation leaving the decision ultimately to his son he asks him….’are you hearing anything different from what you are wanting to do.’
His son answers ‘Yes I am hearing stay and work it out, but I don’t want to.’
E tells his son ‘You have just heard the voice of God and if you deny hearing it your heart will harden and’ ….well hopefully in my woeful retelling of an amazing story you get the picture. Erwin empowered his 10 year old son to HEAR the voice of God…..so maybe we do, but noone has empowered us to believe THAT is what it is???
It’s a voice that says ‘love’ even though they don’t love us the way we want. It’s a voice that says ‘forgive’ when that is the last thing we are thinking about doing. It’s a voice saying ‘give them….’ when all you want is to either hold on to what you have or you want to judge them for asking… It’s a voice that says ‘hug them’ when maybe we’ve never hugged them before……It’s a voice that says ‘stay’ when all we want to do is run….It’s a voice that says stuff totally counter-intuitive to what we think….
it’s a voice I can very easily dismiss and yet turn around and beg to hear…..

1 Corinthians 4: 1 This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of people's hearts. At that time each will receive their praise from God.

How have you heard His voice?

4 comments:

holy chaos said...

OUCH!

can I wear ear plugs????

:)

Laura said...

Thought ptovoking as usual...

How do I hear God's voice? Mainlyl through others, or at least that's how I experience His presence.

rebecca said...

There are so many different ways I have heard the voice....

sometimes it is a chilling/awakening within my spirit; I can actually feel something coming. I've heard a voice telling me preparing me or directing, other times He is foudn within my dreams, which is usually how it happens, through others and through the Word. Once and a while it happens through nature such as a thunder crack or the wind chime when there is no wind followed by a profound truth.

annie said...

Just wanted to let you know your "woeful retelling" of the story spoke volumes to me...