by Roderick Marshall
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“For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness� Psalm 95:7-8 (ESV)
I hope to reach the terminus of my Bible journey as I read from the book of Genesis towards Revelation. It has been a familiar task in the past, though, if I am honest, perhaps not so familiar to me now as it once was. Sporadically, I have shed some of the enthusiasm I once had when I first discovered that the prayerful reading of the pages of scripture revealed glimpses of God’s nature.
Last night was one of those occasions. My problem was that I was not truly focused on the task: reading the Bible. My lack of prayerful preparation had prevented me from going deeper into the Word.
I can imagine the order ringing out from below: “Christian without prayer or preparation reading the Bible – send out the befuddlers!” They were to build on my folly by speaking a disparaging word or two to tell me that it was all a waste of my time.
In a reaction, a word from God rose up to the surface of my being. Found in Revelation 3:15, it was originally spoken to the Church of Laodicea, stored in my mind from an earlier reading. I was like them in danger, too cool in my attitude towards my God. Like them possibly no longer worthy of his Loving embrace. They had tolerated compromise and indifference in their relationship with God. Quickly, I went back into God’s presence to offer a more focused heart and mind. There I found Him waiting.
I would like to think that He smiled approvingly, as a father, who sees in the action of his child, evidence they have heard and understood His call to Wisdom.
Psalm 95:7-8 (ESV) – Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts..
If unwittingly, like me, you find yourself with some apathy, hear the call to wisdom.
PRAYER: Lord, we rejoice that You are not the distant and indifferent God some would tempt us to believe in. Guide us, as we travel through today, encourage us to be whole-hearted for Your Kingdom trusting in Your Love. May Your Fragrance fill our being. Please promote in us a pleasing desire for Your Word today. Amen.
You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/09/25/rm_listening/
I pondered this devotional for several days. Thinking about how Paul writes about people trying to gain the approval of God by works. I also thought of teaching regarding the grace of God, being that it’s not by our works but by the grace of God that we are worthy to be in his presence. I started to wonder about the accuracy of this teaching but pondered longer. It was then I heard the voice of God say ‘ Draw near to me and I will draw near to you’. What more can I say… we serve an awesome…
This is for me too. Thank God!
Your prayer is mine too, Br. Marshall.
When we are not sick we tend to forget to observe manythings which eventually make us sick later, again.
Hence, being conscious about the obsrvance of the commands of the Lord Jesus always will keep us from becoming cold in our faith. If we keep His Word in front of the eyes of our mind, it will be a constant reminder.
Thanks for the inspiring devotional. Blessings.