The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
We
have all had a particular problem from time to time. Maybe it was a problem we have chosen, or
maybe this was a literal health problem.
It is about hearing. Some people
do have a genuine problem being able to hear while others have selective
hearing; they hear only what they want to hear.
This
is a true and very real problem with people of faith. Living by faith isn’t easy. Therefore, we may miss or not try to hear
God. Maybe our experiences have led us
to cut ourselves off. Or maybe we are
cold because of our sin. Maybe we are
dealing with shame or fear or massive amounts of guilt.
Whatever
the case, we need to hear from God. God
loves us. Right? God has a plan for our lives. Right?
But if we are not listening we will not be reassured of His love and
will not hear His awesome plan for our lives.
If
we don’t know where we are going or why we are going, we are in trouble. Life will have many more obstacles and
traps. But what happens when we know
things, when we know where we are headed, we can get there.
We
have promises from God. We have purpose
from God. By listening to God we will
find those promised and that direction.
Listening
to God is one of the first things we have to do to go the direction God has for
us. We do not serve a dictator or a
puppet master that makes us do all He wants.
No, we serve our gracious God who is willing and wants to bless and
direct His children.
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the
prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us
in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the
world.
God is speaking today. He spoke in years gone by, all the way back
to the beginning of creation. He used
the prophets and ways that were evident of His presence coming on people and
moving away.
Today God speaks to us through His son,
Jesus. Jesus is our way and is the truth
(see John 14:6), and Jesus speaks through many different avenues that lead us
back to Him using the Bible, His word to us, and so much more. As we listen to and respond to Jesus we are
refreshed.
Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be
wiped away, in order that times of
refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
Are we listening? God is always speaking. We have a choice to listen, follow, receive
blessings from our God.
Now therefore amend your ways and your deeds and obey
the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will change His mind about the
misfortune which He has pronounced against you.
May our lives show that we have been
with God, we have heard His voice and responded in love to God that we have
come to know and trust. Faith dispels
fear. Confidence comes for us to live and
help others live for God.
Now faith
is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of
things not seen.
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