ARE YOU LISTENING TO GOD?

They said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die." -Exodus 20:19

We don't consciously and deliberately disobey God - we simply don't listen to Him. God has given His commands to us, but we pay no attention to them - not because of willful disobedience, but because we do not truly love and respect Him. "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15). Once we realize we have constantly been showing disrespect to God, we will be filled with shame and humiliation for ignoring Him.

"You speak with us... but let not God speak with us..." We show how little love we have for God by preferring to listen to His servants rather than to Him. We like to listen to personal testimonies, but we don't want God Himself to speak to us. Why are we so terrified for God to speak to us? It is because we know that when God speaks we must either do what He asks or tell Him we will not obey. But if it is simply one of God’s servants speaking to us, we feel obedience is optional, not imperative. We respond by saying, "Well, that's only your own idea, even though I don't deny that what you said is probably God's truth.

Am I constantly humiliating God by ignoring Him, while He lovingly continues to treat me as His child? Once I finally do hear Him, the humiliation I have heaped on Him returns to me. My response then becomes, "Lord, why was I so insensitive and obstinate?" This is always the result once we hear God. But our real delight in finally hearing Him is tempered with the shame we feel for having taken so long to do so.

- Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest (February 12th entry)

Here's a thought: It is a marvel to the many who remain devoted to the Lord in all He’s ordained that there are also those who think of themselves as serious believers yet answer little to nothing of what scripturally the Lord Jesus commanded. This may sound harsh, but is it not true? They do not gather with the body of believers, do not tithe, are not baptized in water, have no interest in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They do not pray, do not worship, are not in the Word or among those gifted and called of God to bring it. They are not interested in the gifts or fruit of the Spirit or being led of the Spirit. And, if they deem that they have a word, a command from the Lord to do something, they do not follow through on it because of opposition they face in or outside their home or related to their own personal interest that’s given priority. They waver at the conviction of the Holy Spirit regarding His Truth, Way or Life. They are fearful in confessing their faith and wonder why there are no testimonies of the Lord forthcoming in their lives.

And yet, in their minds they think themselves sinless, selfless, pleasing, loving and respectful of God for doing some good deeds. From their Monday morning football seat, they allow themselves the liberty of judging the devoted believers of one house of worship after another as though it was Christian to do so. If we have excused ourselves of so many of these things, how is it that we would even think to taste of the Great Supper of Luke14:15-24? Would these present matters not be a prerequisite for the greater to come? Where does this delusion come from??? It comes from NOT standing before our Holy God, Himself, ...respectfully, lovingly, devotedly, completely.

PS: No church? Find one! No testimonies following you? Follow Him! And so forth and so on!

"Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Heb 12:11).

- Pastor Dave Cosgrove