Are You Listening?

How often, as Christians, do we say something like, "I wish I knew God's will or purpose for me."  We express a hunger as if God has withheld the desired nourishment.  We wait for a sign to reveal our purpose and His plan in our lives as if He has left us directionless, without Word on what is desired in our lives.  Really?  Has God left us no Word on how to live our lives and what we ought to be pursuing?  Not really.

Amos put it this way, "Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets" (3:7).  True, you might say, but I'm not a prophet and I don't know any personally.  Really?  You've never heard of Amos or Moses or Isaiah or Peter or Paul?  Of course, but they aren't around to ask.  Hmmm.  You did know that they left instructions, right?  You have heard of the Old Testament and New Testament writings, correct?

Were you aware that they were written with you in mind?  Truely.  Perhaps you will recall the words of Peter when he proclaimed, "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness" (2 Pet 1:3).  And Paul directs us further by saying, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teachingg, rebuking, correcing and training in righteousness" (2 Tim 3:16).  And this is not just an academic proclation but rather a personal calling to "Do your best to presentt yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correcttly handles the Word of Truth" (2 Tim 2:15).

God does not only speak to us thrugh the Bible - He also speaks through the church, the creation and our circumstances.  But, He is always speaking to us.  The problem is that we are not always listening.  How often do you "take time to smell the roses" or "Be still and  know I am God" (Ps 46:10)?  How often do you take time to go talk to church leaders you respect for advice?  How often do you prayerfully and carefully study the Scriptures?  How frequently do you spend quiet time witth God?

What I am getting at is that God has spoke, is speaking and will continue to speak in various ways to which we have ready access but may not be accessing daily or hardly at all.  Too often we wait for a Word from God when has sent a message after message that we have never opened.  God has spoken and is speaking to you, "whoever has ears, let them hear whatt the Spirit says..." (Rom 2:7, 11, 17).  Are you listening?  Jus' Ask'n.