October 27, 2017
""Thus says the Lord"" (Jeremiah 51:1)
The first phrase of my reading this morning overwhelmed me. I could not read further. How many times in Scripture are these incredible four words (or their equivalent) repeated?
HE SPEAKS
The whole Bible itself is nothing less than one long communication from our God, covering countless ages with millions of people. And the most overpowering thought to me is—they are His words to me. They are personal words, living and active, straight from His heart to mine.
WE HEAR
It is still a mystery how we as humans can hear His voice in an experiential way. But He is God, perfectly capable of executing such a miracle.
His Words to us are always true, perfectly accurate. They can be trusted. They are convicting and comforting, discipling and disciplining, disturbing and peace-giving, full of grace and truth, all at the same time. In fact, there is “everything we need for life and godliness,” Peter says. Absolutely all we need to live and live rightly.
OUR RESPONSE
Every word that He speaks calls for a response. He understands our weakness and knows our doubts. But, ultimately, the Lord knows that our best response is always faith. To trust Him and follow His directions. For He has so designed this life that it demands dependency.
We cannot live without Him, and the more we realize this, the more we become hardwired to this communication with Him. Jesus Himself, while living in human flesh said He did nothing on His own initiative, but simply listened to the Father and did what He said (John 8). He was showing us how this Divine Word/Human Faith life was to operate.
Stop and ponder the miracle of His communication to you—through creation and conscience, through His Word and His Spirit, through the blessed privilege of prayer, and, most brilliantly, through the WORD of God who became flesh and dwelt among us so we could behold His glory. And then live the rest of your life committed to ""pray without ceasing"" in a life of continual, daily, hourly communion with the One-Who-Speaks.
Thank you, Lord, for speaking to me. For providing the means and taking the time to communicate to this son you created. Thank you for loving me enough to listen to my complaints and my fears, my worries and my excitements, like a growing child with his loving father. And thank You for always being there, by Your Spirit and through Your Word, to speak so personally from Your heart to mine. I long for the day when we can talk face-to-face!
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