Quick to Listen

One of the great privileges we have as believers in Jesus is that we can hear His call. In John 10:27 Jesus declares, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me, and I give them Eternal life.” Notice the heart attitude of one of Jesus’ sheep, they hear Him. Hearing Jesus develops an intimacy where He becomes known to us, and we are known to Him. As we get to know Him, and His voice, we trust our Shepherd and follow His lead. He leads us in His ways, and gives us eternal life. From Psalm 23 we know our Shepherd leads us to lush green pastures and peaceful waters. That is good news to a sheep.

Following Jesus requires an attitude that is willing to set aside any distractions. Proverbs 4:20 says, “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.” To “incline our ears” means to give “full attention” to what the word of God has to say. The Good Shepherd will never lead us in a path that is contrary to the word of God, so it is important that we are diligent to read and study God’s word.

And finally, James 1:19 says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” At times, the opposite is true for us, we are slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to anger. If we are going to follow Jesus we are going to have to develop better skills in listening. Pray and ask Jesus to help you be a better listener, to set aside distractions and find out what His word has to say on the subject at hand, and to know your Good Shepherd. He will guide you into His path and plan. It’s His promise: My sheep hear My voice.

What God Sees

A lot of times what the world thinks is important is not important to God.
1 Samuel 16:7 says, “For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  This account in 1 Samuel shows God instructing the prophet Samuel to anoint a new king for Israel.  God was not interested in who was the most handsome, the most talented, or the most likely to succeed; He was interested in who had a heart for the things of God.  God chose David to lead Israel, not because of his vast experience in leading people, but because God saw in David a man after His own heart. As David led Israel, it was revealed he had some major flaws, yet God used David mightily because when David missed it, he repented and continued to have a heart for the things of God.

God is still looking for people He can use to accomplish great things for His kingdom.  With God, it’s not a person’s ability that is key, but a person’s availability. God has given wonderful gifts to people, abilities like helping and serving, leading and speaking, loving and giving.  But, how many are willing to say, “Lord, I’m available, use me.”  It’s easy to come up with excuses as to why we can’t be used by God.  Some would say, “I’m too busy,” others, “I’m too old,” others, “I’m too young.”  It’s not up to us to determine if the Master can use us, our part should be to say, “Lord, if you want to use me, I’m available.” God may not be looking for the most gifted to do a particular job, but a person whose heart is toward Him.

How about you?  Will you say, “Lord, send me!"

Leaving Room for Grace

Sometimes, when we are going through some of the greatest struggles we have ever faced, we forget to leave room for the grace of God. How do you leave room for God’s grace? Start by reminding yourself that you are God’s child, He loves you, and if you put your trust in Him, it is going to work out for good.

Luke eight recounts the story of the woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years. She had spent all she had on medical treatment, yet grew worse. In the natural, there seemed to be no hope, yet she was looking to see how God could be her help, and then, she heard of Jesus. She heard He was healing others with hopeless medical conditions. Maybe He would heal her. She said, “If I can just touch the hem of His garment, I can be made well.” She was leaving room for the grace of God.

She made her way to Jesus, she pressed through the crowd, she touched His garment, and was made whole. Jesus said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer, your faith has made you whole.” Leaving room for the grace of God does not necessarily mean we passively sit and wait for God to do something. It means we come to God with faith saying, “I believe You love me, I believe You are for me. Lord, You know what I’m going through, and You will help me. I may not know how, but I believe You are my answer.

Whatever you are facing right now, whether challenges big or small, remember, God loves you so much, and remember to leave room for God to work in your life. Remember to leave room for the grace of God.

Letters Of Commendation

In the U.S. Military, every soldier, sailor, or marine has a place on their dress uniform to display ribbons, badges and commendations they have earned and received.  It displays military campaigns they have participated in as well as medals and badges for meritorious service.  Some medals and badges are also accompanied by a letter of commendation.  This is a way to show others how they have been commended for a job well done.

In 2 Corinthians 3, the Apostle Paul tells the believers at Corinth that as followers of Jesus, they are living letters of commendation.  These letters are not written with pen and paper or displayed on a uniform.  Instead their lives are to reflect the love of God and the character of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Verse 3 says, “You are an epistle of Christ ... written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on the tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.”

When people in the world observe Christians living their lives, they should be able to tell a difference between how the Christian lives and how others live.  Sadly, in the church today, it's hard to tell much difference between the church and the world.  This ought not to be so.

Jesus said, “Let your life so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”  As followers of Jesus, may our lives reflect the Lord we love and serve.  No need for a letter of commendation; we are living letters to be read by all.  May our lives reflect His character and love.