GodReflection: I Believe.

When I read Old Testament Scripture, I am struck with how infrequently God’s voice was audible. Intervals of thousands—sometimes only hundreds—of years passed without the sound of God’s voice. On the surface it might look as if I’m left to converse with The Holy in a one-sided monologue. How can I believe that I hear the Holy Creator talk?

Ok, first I will have to believe in the possibility of Holy Presence. I discover a clue as I read Matthew’s Gospel. The prophecy in the beginning of Matthew begins by his declaration that Jesus is no less than the fulfillment of Isaiah 7.

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23).

Immanuel seems to be my key to work with what I perceive as God’s voice. Jesus brings the voice of God to all believers. Jesus is “God with us”.

Jesus came as human to earth to reveal Holy God who is beyond my understanding. He came to make Him known (John 1:18). Jesus makes God tangible. Jesus brings a photograph of God to earth. Something new is about to happen. The scene is set to open a 24/7 communication channel with God for all who enter His family and allow Him to be an ever-present Father.

It is as if Jesus carries a selfie in his satchel. When he senses a persons’ desire to see God, he shows them his own portrait and God appears.

Jesus came to serve as my interpreter. Through him I begin to decipher how I can converse with God.

God broke His silence and spoke through Jesus. The Son teaches me what matters to the Father. I learn God cares about people. He can’t stand the fact they suffer and go through hunger and pain. It hurts Him when they sin because each sin causes pain for His children.

As I watch Jesus, I see God cry when His heart-ones watch their loved one die. He hates the destruction caused by Satan. He longs for His children to live eternally in his perfect presence. Still today, Jesus’ concerns are the subject of many of our prayer conversations. I can be confident that Jesus-God hears and understands concerns we hold in common.

God provides the four inspired Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to show me Jesus—the language of God. All four Gospels reveal what the Apostle John paints so beautifully in word pictures. The words of Jesus become Holy art. Is it possible to listen to a Jesus-Father-collage?

The one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known . . . Whatever the Father does the Son also does . . . Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him . . . I and the Father are one . . .

If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him . . . Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? . . . Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed . . . As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

Since Jesus came to earth to show me God—as I listen to Jesus, I begin to hear God’s voice. I like the explanation of Paul, the missionary apostle: The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15).

Here is what I think. This is how all the above works in my life and in yours. Once we commit to follow the way of Jesus, with our minds immersed in Scripture and our hearts dialed into Father, Son, and Spirit, as we go about our day conversation takes place.

If I listen, I believe I hear God Talk. With heart attune to what we learn from Him we listen as he nudges us toward wise decisions in the navigation of our day. His voice may appear through friends, from what we read, and from our innermost thoughts.

At times that conversation is intense. We call that prayer. At other times throughout the day, in spontaneity we continually thank God for His countless gifts that cross our path. I suspect the closer we walk with the Holy, the more aware we become of His voice. Yes, we can hear God Talk. Can you hear Him?

Stay tuned.

Dr. Gary J. Sorrells

A GodReflection on If I Listen, I Believe I Hear God Talk.

Gary@GreatCities.org  Gary@GodReflectionBlog.com

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