John 10:26-29
But you don’t believe me because you are not part of my flock. 27 My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. So no one can take them from me.
Pastor of The Creek Covenant Church in Walnut Creek
Thousands of words are spoken everyday by the average person. I tend to select my spoken words carefully. Verbose speakers, many I know well, pick up on my lack of spoken words to push up the average. We all agree that, whether with few or many, words are vital to communicating respect, gratitude, friendship, compassion and love to one another. Communication is a human trait.
Communication is a divine trait. The first man and woman knew God and talked with him. When this man and woman chose to live apart from him, God went looking for them, “Where are you?” It’s a wonderful story that tells us that even in our sin God still comes looking to talk with us. This story continues, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” (Psalm 95:7-8)
God speaks more than I listen. God speaks based on the nature of God, the nature of relationship and the words of Jesus who tells us that we can recognize his voice. So the question is not if God speaks, but am I listening? What I mean is, am I willing to hear whatever it is God wants to say to me through scripture, prayer, solitude, the Church? My positive response is absolutely crucial. If I only want to hear an answer that agrees with what I want, then I am not in a position to listen. Listening requires a posture of surrender to God’s desires and will. It is nearly impossible for me to hear God unless there is a willingness to obey. Hearing the voice of God is an issue of surrender and trust. Are you ready to respond to whatever God says? Until you are, you’re unlikely to hear his voice.
Jesus, speak to me for I am ready to accept whatever you want to say to me, and I promise I will do it.
Dialog discuss: If you are a pastor, you cannot help but be motivated at your revised job description, namely, “to get the people sitting in our pews to use their vocations in a natural way to connect locally and internationally.” Your new gauge of effectiveness is, “How many laypeople am I mobilizing?” Bob Roberts, Globilization.