God speaks: words of invitation and hope and life
I am constantly thinking.
Once again I have been pondering how to keep my thoughts constructive and valuable, and realized something in the process. One of my most powerful thoughts concerns all that happened in the Christmas story. Think of it--God became a man to bring light, love, hope, relationship and redemption to the world . . . things he offers to you and me too.
But here's the thing: we do not sit across the lunch counter talking with God nor do we get to hear his audible voice in our lives. But consider with me the radical notion that 2,000 years ago, when Jesus grew up in Nazareth, stepped into ministry around the Galilee and up around Jerusalem, people did hear the Savior speak, even laugh . . . When I think about that, it amazes me. I wonder about the timbre of Jesus’ voice – was it low, high, somewhere in the middle? And what did his laugh sound like? Hmmm. . .
God speaks – from Creation to today, though we must incline our ear to hear him.
With so many competing voices, how do we hear the most important one? We must make it a priority to discern and order our lives around Truth [that which conforms to reality not our own version of it], rather than what is being bandied about and shockingly accepted in our culture. And, how do we bear in mind at all times the Good News of Jesus Christ, letting that good news infuse the way we live and go boldly into each day? Hmmm…
In the last Morning Briefing, we saw that Jesus did not just burst onto the scene all those years ago, but rather God had been planning and even announcing those plans to his people for hundreds of years beforehand. We looked at how the prophets specifically foretold of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem 700 years before the night of his birth, supplying other details as well. But now, consider with me that when Jesus spoke, his words were those of God himself, revealing the Father’s heart toward us as well. Jesus’ words have not gone away--irrelevant, disregarded parchments that have no bearing, value or application to us. Instead, Jesus’ words shout off the pages of the gospels to comfort, inform, challenge, remind, embolden and empower us to live life to the full.
God speaks – through the words of Jesus himself – to us today.
Heavenly Father, please speak to us, guard us from distraction just now as you speak to us from the words Jesus once spoke. But first, Lord, I remember how You spoke from the heavenlies, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”1 O, how you loved him! With your endorsement ringing in our ears, Father, how much more should we heed what Jesus has to say to us! Like that little boy of old, I say, Speak Lord, for your servant is listening,2 may Jesus’ words penetrate our minds—our very thinking—our hearts and our souls.
Perhaps you are looking for direction, meaning and a place of belonging, consider Jesus' words: “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.3
Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.4
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me [the Father] has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life.5
I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.6 Jesus alone satisfies.
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.7 Why in the world would we not accept his invitation to follow him?
Just revisiting these few words of Jesus reminds me that He is the Good News
all the world is looking for! These words remind me that culture
may seem to be spinning out of control, but God is the one in control!
Friend, do not take your cues from the 24-7 news cycle or social media,
look to the Light of the world.
God yet speaks, inviting us to experience the hope and real life in Jesus.
Think on these things,
Christine
PastorWoman.net
1 – Matthew 3.17
2 – 1 Samuel 3.9
3 – Matthew 7.13-14
4 – John 4.14
5 – John 5.24
6 – John 6.35
7 – John 8.12
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