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!   

No solo leaders ...

I am not sure if I have mentioned another book I have been reading (put it aside while I was away on holidays as I didn't want to take a book I was nearly finished). Leadership Gold by John Maxwell. Let me say from the outset, the title sums up the content. If you are seeking a book on leadership that has the richness of much experience (tried and tested) and lots of practical tips for being the best leader you can be, then this book is for you. Twenty Six golden nugget lessons.

Here was the one that stood out to me this morning - Few Leaders Are Successful Unless A Lot Of People Want Them To Be. John Maxwell says - We believe individuals like Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Charlemagne, William the Conqueror, Louis XIV, Abraham Lincoln, and Winston Churchill would be great no matter what kind of support they got. but that simply isn't true. Without a lot of people working together, there would be no successful leaders.

In other words, behind all these amazingly great people, there were lots of other people working away. Yes, they were probably fulfilling the vision and instructions passed on to them from their leader, but they were doing their bit. They were fulfilling their part. The leader had a reliance upon them.

Now this is not to diminish the greatness of the leader or their contribution. It serves as a reminder that we need others to help us. We cannot do this alone.

Paul reminds us of the Body. Jesus the head, each of us having a part to play. Some the eye, some the hands, some the heart, etc. None more important than another. All significant. All of value. All required by the other.

Let us celebrate the importance of others in what we do.

Of what consequence ...

I recall a couple of people in conversation recently who had many questions. You know what I mean, the wondering "why?" Why this death? Why such destruction? Why such pain and suffering? Why, why, why? And much of what they were discussing was really about - "why me?"

What was said next is what really interested me, (because I have thought along these lines myself before, until I really thought about it, and came to a new realisation). The conversation turned to all they were going to ask God/Jesus to explain when they got to heaven. It was like, God was going to have to give account, give reason and understanding to all these things that had happened to them.

Have you stopped to think about it a moment? When you leave this earth and meet with the God of the universe, the Creator. When you come face to face with Jesus, the One who laid down His life freely, that you and I could have life. The conqueror of death. When you come face to face, what will it be that is on your tongue? What will be running through your mind? Do you really think it will be about something you don't understand and seeking an answer?

I don't believe it will be, for the angels cry, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord, God Almighty!" They sing praises to Him. Are we likely to do other than this? Is anything else of greater importance? Really?

Paul in writing to the church in Philippi recalls his personal standing (circumcised, a pure-blooded citizen of Israel, a member of the tribe of Benjamin, a real Hebrew, a member of the Pharisees - Philippians 3: 1-6) and follows on with this claim:

Philippians 3:7-11 (New Living Translation)

7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.[a] For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

Or maybe the songwriters capture it for you as they do for me:

 

When I look into Your Holiness.

When I gaze into Your loveliness.

When all things that surround

Become shadows in the light of You.

 

When I found the joy of reaching Your heart.

When my will becomes enthralled in Your love.

When all things that surround

Become shadows in the light of You.

 

I worship You, I worship You.

The reason I live

Is to worship You

(Wayne Perrin, Cathy Perrin)

 

"I desire to be faithful in my worship and service to You each day Lord, help me to live upright and true to who I am in You."