With Anticipation...

I have been reflecting upon the fact that I have placed a few orders over the past couple of weeks, locally and international. Some I am waiting on a phone call to say when they are in or when they will be delivered and others it is a matter of watching and waiting with anticipation for their delivery by post/courier.

These items have consisted of furniture, bike parts and books (I love my reading in case you are not a 'Goodreads' follower of mine). So, each day I might at some point wonder, 'is today the day?' Some items I have gotten tired of waiting and ended up phoning to check on the progress of availability and delivery.

Here's the thing it had me contemplating, do I watch and wait for a revelation of the Lord with the same anticipation? Is that the way I view my relationship with the Lord, wanting more, desiring more, hoping for more of Him to be revealed. For me to understand the Lord that bit more because of my encounter with Him?

Actually, it 'is' my experience. There is something about the realisation that my reliance is upon Him. I constantly depend upon Him. Does it mean I always listen well to His instruction? No! Does it mean I am absolutely obedient? Sadly, no! But there is an ever growing desire that I might place myself in a better place whereby it is the Lord I seek direction and guidance from first. I do not want to get in the way of His being able to do GREAT things in this city, in this Corps of Geelong, in the lives of people that I might encounter.

'Lord (Master), speak: Thy servant heareth,

Waiting for Thy gracious word, 

Longing for Thy voice that cheereth;

Lord (Master), let it now be heard.

I am listening, Lord, for Thee;

What hast Thou to say to me?

May you be richly blessed as you seek a stronger and growing relationship with the Lord.

Who Are You Listening To?

1 Samuel 3:8-10

The Message (MSG)

^8-9 God called again, “Samuel!”—the third time! Yet again Samuel got up and went to Eli, “Yes? I heard you call me. Here I am.”
That’s when it dawned on Eli that God was calling the boy. So Eli directed Samuel, “Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, ‘Speak, God. I’m your servant, ready to listen.’” Samuel returned to his bed.
¹⁰ Then God came and stood before him exactly as before, calling out, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Samuel answered, “Speak. I’m your servant, ready to listen.”

The story of Samuel is one of my favourites. I would encourage you to take the time to sit down some time and read it through.

This passage has me thinking about the voices we listen to. There have been many occasions when I have had people talk to me about what they have been told in the past, you might know the stuff, they will amount to nothing, they are hopeless, worthless, just taking up space. The reality is, you hear that stuff enough and you begin to believe it.

As people begin to encounter Christ and hopefully, as they begin to encounter good, honest followers of Christ, they begin to hear fresh messages. Messages of love and encouragement, value and purpose. The struggle is, which do I believe? Who do I listen to?

Further to this, for some there because another difficulty, how do I know that it is God speaking to me? I reckon there are a couple of things to be looking for. Firstly, God is consistent. Does what you hear match up to what is recorded of Him in the Scripture? Because God doesn't all of a sudden go back on His word. So, is it about grace, mercy, peace and love? Secondly, who are the people in the church that exemplify Christ in their lives? Those who reveal the fruit of the Spirit in their living? For these are the people that are discerning and are able to assist you in understanding if what you are hearing is of God, seek them out.

Friends, let's be those people of God, people who live life in Christ. Let's ensure we are encouragers and assisting others to determine what God's will and plan is for them. Bless you real good as you do this for the Kingdom!   

And do ...

There has been a shift over the last number of years toward ensuring that we are a people (Christians) who listen to God. That we stop amongst the busyness of our days and remove ourselves from the activity of our lives (even ministry stuff) and spend some time hearing (listening) what God has to say to us. In fact, I personally have been a huge advocate to giving our attention to BEing, and though I have emphasised this over "doing", I would not have wanted this to misinterpret the need to "do". Just that the greater emphasis, the first action be, to "BE".

Apart from the Scripture verse that I will reveal in a moment, only today I had an opportunity to attend some training to which I was reminded, "the gaining of knowledge (hearing, listening, learning), is nothing if I do not put it into practice."

The following verse is a part of a slightly larger grouping of verses on the topic (James 1: 19-27) so have a look at them in greater fulness:

James 1:22 (New Living Translation)

22 But don’t just listen to God’s word.

You must do what it says.

Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

Have you heard the expression, "they are so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly use." I liken the advise of this passage to this. I can hear all that God has to say to me. I can be an amazing scholar of the Word (the Scriptures). I can gain a tremendous amount  of insight into the love and care of God, and His plan of salvation for all people. But, if I don't make any application of this learning, this listening, this instruction and guidance, what good is it? What will be accomplished? Will the Kingdom of God see any growth through me? (highly unlikely).

"Father, I understand that merely doing is not what you call me too. I am not required to be preoccupied with activity and action, whereby I loose sight of BEing who You created me to be, with spiritual purpose and depth and growth in developing more and more the charachter of Your Son Jesus. Yet, I also understand that in this development and learning, I am to be active for You, a doer. Help me to keep this all in check and follow Your plan for my life."