LEARNING DAILY

 

John 10:4, “And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”  Jesus (emphasis added)

 

John 10:16, “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear my voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.”  Jesus (emphasis added)

 

I realize it is the Christmas season and I will get to some things about Christmas. It seems I cannot get away from writing about this today. Recently I picked up a little book that was on a pile of books to be taken to the Half Price Bookstore. The name of the book is 2 Chairs written by Bob Beaudine.  As I read it, I began to think I might purchase a copy of this book for each of my family as a stocking stuffer. The basic premise is to get two chairs in a quiet place – one for you and one for God – and He would speak to you there. Now, I am not going to be critical of this because I certainly will not put any restrictions on God regarding what He does and when.  I just do not care for formulas. I decided against getting the book. Since I read this book, it has been all over the search engine I look at each day for purchase.

 

The verses above have bothered me for years because I want to hear God’s voice. I would love to set up two chairs knowing that God would sit in one of them and answer every question I had; I would love to sit and just fellowship with Him.  I might just sit there all of the time.  For me I have not found that to happen. I believe God has spoken to my mind on two occasions in forty-five years of following Him. I do believe that He has spoken through the Holy Spirit to warn me about straying off the narrow way; that would be often! I do know that God speaks to me when I really take the time to read and study His Word.  You probably have notice when I write I refer to the Bible as God’s Word. I do so deliberately because the Bible is God’s written Word to each of us.  The writer of Hebrews writes, For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” In other words, God Word is alive and speaks to us when we really take our time with it.

 

Okay, I need to tell you I have tried to do somethings similar to the two-chair idea. I sat down in my best devout attitude, asked God a question that I really wanted Him to answer, and listened. I am not mocking this book at all; it had some really great thoughts I might use for the blog someday. But as I listened, my mind wandered to so many other things.  I might even have dozed off for a second or two.  So, this does not work for me.  Oh, I am not giving up on being silent before God. I just am not buying into the formula. But I want to tell you when I open my Bible, God’s Word is amazing.  I have shared many thoughts in the blog about those times.  I sense the heart of Isaiah and Jeremiah, for example, about God’s people abandoning Him for idols and the ways of the world.  I sense Him trying to draw me closer to His kingdom as I walk on the narrow way. I sure sense Him when I have messed up and got off the narrow way.

 

Yes, God’s people can hear God’s voice.  There is no absolute formula that guarantees how you hear His voice. I just know He has said His people will know His voice.  This to be continued.