July 28 – Listen. Hear. Receive.

“I will hear what God the LORD will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; But let them not turn back to folly. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land.” -  Psalm 85:8-9 (NASB)

God has many things to tell us each day and He has several ways of speaking to us. We are so glad for the way He speaks to us when we read the Bible or hear someone teach us from it. Sometimes He speaks to us by reminding us of something we have read earlier in the Bible, maybe years ago.  We know that He can also speak through our consciences through the Holy Spirit who lives within us. Our verse reminds us of what happens in our hearts when we become conscious that God is speaking to us. When we recognize God's voice speaking to us and we receive what He tells us in an obedient manner we sense His peace within. How wonderful to know it is the voice of God speaking to us. The peace ultimately comes in fullness in the Messiah’s kingdom. In Ezekiel 10-11 we can read about the time that the glory of God departed from Israel because of their apostasy and refusal to believe and obey God’s word.  His promises were delayed until the end of time when the glory will return. Listen today for God’s voice from His Word. Listen and learn.

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May 26 –Hears, Knows, Follows

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;” John 10:27 (NASB)

One of the many things Jesus spoke of Himself to help people understand His mission was that He was the Good Shepherd. It was very common in that day and people knew how important a shepherd's job was. Today's verse are words spoken by Jesus and recorded in the Gospel of John. We believe that everyone who believes in Jesus as Savior enters into the relationship pictured in this verse. What we mean is that by believing in Jesus we become one of his flocks and we can think of Him as our shepherd. Jesus said in our verse that His sheep listen to His voice. This means that He is speaking to us. He is not just up in heaven and far away. He knows us and is talking to us right now. It also reminds us that we should be listening to hear our Lord speaking to us and following what He is telling us.  This is a wonderful provision.  Jesus has thoughts to share with us. We don't have to go through a day without hearing His voice in our spirit. Let's be sure we're within hearing range so that we can hear Him today.

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May 11 – Sighted and Hearing

“He who planted the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see?”  Psalm 94:9 (NASB)

This verse might cause us to pause just a moment with the question, “He who planted the ear..?” But, this is a common use of the word to speak of creation. When God created our human ancestors in order to have fellowship with them, He gave His creatures the ability to know what is going on. Each of us was given the ability to see what is around us and to hear sounds happening around us. Not every creature sees and hears equally well and some not at all, but such circumstances were not in God's plan at the beginning. We are reminded today that the ability to see and to hear were given to us by the one who created us.  God wanted us to experience a part of what He has always experienced. God gave us the ability to see in part because He sees everything. He made us able to hear some sounds because he hears every sound. Yes, our God sees us in our needy time and he listens when we pray – that is the promise he made when he made us. Let's be thankful.  

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April 20 – How Doers Listen

“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” – James 2:22 (NASB)

“But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.” – James 2:25 (NASB)

Sometimes we hear without listening and when asked, “Did you hear?” we may reply “I heard you.” But we may have only heard, but not listened. If we listen, then we can respond by being a doer. God’s Word is given to us so that we can become doers of what we have listened to do. God wants each of us to become a doer.. How do we listen? By paying attention to what we read in the Word of God or listening to those teaching the Bible to us. James calls professing believers to be “doers,” rather than simply to do, because he emphasizes how our entire personality should be characterized in that way. Those who are only hearers are like those who can’t remember who they saw after looking at themselves in a mirror. Practice makes permanent and God wants us to be permanent doers of His law. Throughout the Bible, God’s revealed, inerrant, sufficient, and comprehensive Word is called “law.” The presence of His grace does not mean there is no moral law or code of conduct for believers to obey. Believers are enabled by the Spirit to be faithful doers. Let’s do that today.

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March 5 – Now I Have Seen You - Finding God in Job Part 3

 

“Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” - Job 42:5 (ESV)

Job admitted to flunking God’s biology geology, astronomy, meteorology, zoology, and all examinations. Now he asked questions only to learn about God’s deeds.  Job had only heard of God’s doings. The complainer was not an eyewitness of the act of Creation, a fact God called to his attention near the beginning of His first speech. Nor could Job even view firsthand many aspects of natural Creation.  His perspective of God’s total workings was therefore limited and secondhand.  But now Job has seen some awesome things about God.  Max Lucado writes in his book “Begin again:”  “He saw hope, lover, destroyer, giver, taker, dreamer, deliverer. Job saw the tender anger of a God whose unending love is often received with a peculiar mistrust. Job stood as a blade of grass against the consuming fire of God’s splendor. Job’s demands melted like wax as God pulled back the curtain and heaven’s light fell uneclipsed across the earth.” For Job it’s a thrilling view of God; a first-time experience. So Job confesses, “now my eyes have seen You”. It is a spiritual insight not physical vision and when this happens, our appreciation of God and his majesty is deepened. 

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The book of Job is not easy to read or to understand. When trying to grasp its truth as a whole, it seems nearly unreachable. Thanks to the daily devotional “All Up Words” by Max Lucado. Acknowledgement and thanks for some of these ideas is given to his words     https://maxlucado.com/listen/now-i-have-seen-you/   

January 7 – Before The Petitions

“Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.  Isaiah 65:24 (ESV)

Each of us carries burdens that drive us to seek help and answers from God. So we talk to Him in our prayers – both spoken and thoughts in which we address our Lord God. How then, do we perceive that God hears our prayers? We know He does because the Bible tells us that the effective prayer offered with clear conscience and relationship with God will be answered and bring about much in the way of answers. Sometimes we may talk about heaven being so far away. However, it is within speaking distance to those who belong there. The greater context of this verse is about a time yet to be. But we see a promise in this verse even for us today. We are promised that God knows our prayers before we speak them and he both hears and answers them according to His will⸺as we learn elsewhere in the Scriptures. Whatever we ask, according to God’s will, we receive to the glory of God. So it is in this promise today. God answers before we even call and hears before we even voice our requests. Yet, we continue to pray according to the will of God.  

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April 29 – No Hide and Seek Games

“Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.”  -Isaiah 30:20-21  (NLT)

We can know and trust God because He has promised that in the most difficult circumstances of our life, He is with us and providing for us.  He promises to never desert us.  If we have been going through adverse condition and if our way has been more difficult and caused us suffering, God knows this.  Just as the people of Israel, in the time Isaiah was God’s prophet experienced periods of judgment because of disobedience, God promised to open their eyes to the truth of the message of His prophets (Isaiah 29:24).  Adversity is a bridge to a deeper relationship with God if we are willing to cross it. Through it, the Lord reveals Himself to us, helps us to understand His ways, He teaches us to listen to Him, and strengthens our faith.  The Lord promises to lead and to guide us, His people. He doesn’t do “hide and seek,” games or make it difficult for us to find Him and His will. Actually it’s the opposite, God will move heaven and earth to show us His will if necessary. If we really want to do His will, He promises to make it clear to us.

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June 12 – Call, He Is Near

“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them.”  Psalm 145:18-19 (NASB)

The great Lord whom we serve is the great God of the universe.  We can say He is everywhere but now our promise in today's verse assures us that He is near to those who follow Him and who call upon Him.  We can take this as a promise that God does come close to us when we call to Him especially if we are truly praying to Him.  We have to be calling on God in truth and faith believing.  Our verse also assures us that God hears when we ask Him for His help in our lives and He fulfills our desires.  If what we want God to do for us is according to His will He will be sure to answer our prayers.  Even in time when we are in desperate circumstances He hears our cry for help and He will save us from evil.  Let's be sure that we expect this and that we thank our heavenly Father for His help each time.  

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May 11 – Listen. Hear. Know His Voice

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;” John 10:27 (NASB)

Perhaps you have had the opportunity to see a modern day shepherd, or sheep farmer, in action.  In the video link below one gives others the opportunity to call his flock of sheep together. As each one tries, the sheep ignore every attempt. Then the sheep farmer steps up and begins to call and the sheep perk up their ears, listen and come running.  Sheep  know the voice of their shepherd.  That is what Jesus was illustrating here by telling the people that those who are known by Jesus because of their faith in Him also know His voice when He calls us.  That is why, when we are willing to listen, we will hear Jesus call us. It may be through the tug in our heart or the stirring of our thoughts and our conscience by the Holy Spirit.  If we know the Lord Jesus, we will recognize the call and we will know know that God is prodding us to move this way or that and to follow Him by observing His words of instruction.  Following Jesus means we are listening for His voice and hearing its we are seeking His direction for the decisions that direct our steps and make our path straight.  

Watch how sheep listen, hear and respond to the shepherd's voice. 2:00 

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March 10 – Capable

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear.”    Isaiah 59:1 (NASB)

Yesterday our verse taught us that God is our eternal light and that He keeps our light shining – that He turns our darkness into light.  Today we have a verse that describes another way that God is more than capable of keeping His promises to watch over us and care for us.  Two reasons are in this verse for why we put our trust in our God to meet our needs.  When we need God's help, He wants us to turn to him in prayer and ask for help.  We can do so with confidence of getting that help because today's promise is that God will not come up short in His action to help us.  He can save us out of any circumstances, threats, trials, or discomfort we are facing.   He also promises that when we call on Him in prayer, he hears us.  God has no problem with hearing our cry for help.  So we can trust that He will hear, He does hear and when He comes to our aid, He is fully capable.  God does not come up short in doing what He promises to do. 

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November 3 – Hear, Know, Follow

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;”  John 10:27 (NASB)

While on this earth and during his ministry Jesus spoke of Himself as the good shepherd who would lead His followers on the right way.  In the Gospel of John he makes the statement in our verse.  We believe that Jesus was not speaking only about the disciples who were following Him during His three years of ministry here on earth. We believe that He included all those who have followed Him and obeyed His teaching during the centuries since He returned to Heaven, and will in the future.  This includes us today.  What we're thinking of today is that Jesus expects us to listen, to know His voice and to follow Him.  He is still speaking to us today.  He continues to call to us and we continue to hear His voice as the Life and the Truth and the Way.  We recognize His voice as we read the Bible and as His Spirit guides us.  Let's be sure we are listening for His voice and to what He is calling us to do – that's the following part.  

View the YouTube video HERE that demonstrates how sheep know their shepherd's voice.

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May 26 – Hearing. Knowing. Following.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;” John 10:27 (NASB)

One of the many things Jesus spoke of Himself to help people understand His mission was that He was the Good Shepherd. It was very common in that day and people knew how important a shepherd's job was. Today's verse are words spoken by Jesus and recorded in the Gospel of John. We believe that everyone who believes in Jesus as Savior enters into the relationship pictured in this verse. What we mean is that by believing in Jesus we become one of his flock and we can think of Him as our shepherd. Jesus said in our verse that His sheep listen to His voice. This means that He is speaking to us. He is not just up in heaven and far away. He knows us and is talking to us right now. It also reminds us that we should be listening to hear our Lord speaking to us and following what He is telling us.  This is a wonderful provision.  Jesus has thoughts to share with us. We don't have to go through a day without hearing His voice in our spirit. Let's be sure we're within hearing range so that we can hear Him today.

May 11 – Seeing and Hearing

“Does he who fashioned the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see?”  Psalm 94:9 (NIV)

When God created our human ancestors in order to have fellowship with them, He gave His creatures the ability to know what is going on. Each of us was given the ability to see what is around us and to hear sounds happening around us. Not not every creature sees and hears equally well and some not at all, but such circumstances were not in God's plan at the beginning. We are reminded today that the ability to see and to hear were given to us by the one who created us.  God fashioned the ear to hear and the eye to see because God wanted us to experience a part of what He has always experienced. God gave us the ability to see some things because He sees everything. He made us able to hear some sounds because he hears everything. Yes, our God sees us in our needs and he listens when we pray – that is the promise he made when he made us. Let's be thankful.  

May 3 – Hears Our Prayers Everyday

“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.” Isaiah 59:1 (NIV)

Today is a special day in the United States. It is the first Thursday of May and designated by United States Congress as the National Day of Prayer.* 

For that reason we have selected a verse from our Bible about our prayer answering God. This was recorded by the prophet Isaiah who was trying to emphasize what a great God we have by using human terminology and illustration. We realize that our God does not perform His great acts by using arms and hands such as we have. He can act is so many ways and using a great variety of means. We do not need to pray only on a special designated day, and when we pray to God, He does not need to listen to our words to get the meaning that we want to express. We can pray in our hearts silently and He knows why we are looking to Him. He responds to the faith that He can detect in our thinking. So wherever you are in this world, for today, and every day let's remember how great a God we have and how faithful He is to take care of us as he hears and responds to our prayers. 
    
* The National Day of Prayer was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. In 1988, the law was unanimously amended by both the House and the Senate and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on Thursday, May 5, 1988, designating the first Thursday of May as a day of national prayer. Every president since 1952 has signed a National Day of Prayer proclamation.
More about the National Day of Prayer for 2018.

April 30 – Hear and Obey and Love

“But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:”  1 John 2:5 (NIV)

God's Word comes to us in different ways. We hear His Word when it is preached or taught to us. We take it in when we read passages. We hear it when someone shares just a verse or two by word of mouth or even in letters or notes sent to us. Television and radio is a way we might hear the Word of God coming to us. No matter how we receive it, God wants us to be obedient to the instruction we are given. Our verse reminds us that those who love God will obey Him.  So if we obey what God tells us in His Word we are showing our love for Him. It is God's love in us that produces obedience and the motivation to obey Him. And, our obedience shows that God's love has done its work in us. Today, hear and obey so that the love of God is made known to others and our love for God is made complete in us. 

April 12 – Light To Understanding

“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:130 (NIV)

We come to the longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119 today for our verse.  Each verse in this Psalm speaks about God's Word in one way or another.  We are so glad that our God has given us His Word in the Bible.  We're glad that we have the Bible to read because God has not only revealed His will to those who wrote it but he has seen to it that the writings have been preserved and brought down to us.  The psalmist who wrote the words of our verse had experienced what God’s Word had done for him. What he had learned was like light shining in the darkness. It helped him to understand what was going on in the world.  As we hear God's Word taught and preached let's listen very carefully. God wants us to understand what His plans are for the world and for His people, and for our individual lives.  Let's allow His Word to open our eyes to see His Love and concern for us. Our promise is that His Word gives us the light we need to understand.