Hearing God Speak

All too often, we forget why God gave us the Bible, and it is time that we remembered!

Gone are the days of God walking with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden talking face to face with mankind. Gone are the days of Moses when God spoke and Moses revealed God’s Words to His chosen people. Gone are the days of Gideon, Samson, and Deborah when God’s judges declared God’s desires. Gone are the days of Christ walking through the Holy Land casting out demons, healing the sick, and preaching Life. Gone are the days of the apostles who walked with Christ and learned His Words and precepts at His side. With these bygones, have we heard the last of God’s precious Words?

God forbid! As 2 Timothy 3:16 reveals, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” What does this mean exactly? For starters, it means that all scripture was recorded for a purpose. It might be to teach us, to show us what is wrong in our lives, to correct us by showing us how to change, or to give us an example of how we are to live.

You can study Daniel. You can learn about his life and read that he was an Israelite captive carried into Babylon. You can learn that he had no physical blemishes and was selected for the king’s court, that he refused to eat unclean, idol meat that he saw as abominable to God, and that he fervently prayed to God even when the action became illegal. By reading and studying Daniel’s life, we would find an example of living faith and courage despite persecution; additionally we would see God’s mighty hand at work throughout the story and His unerring devotion to Daniel.

Other Scriptures record God’s promises and offer encouragement for our lives.” And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8). “If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:9-10).

Still others offer direction and eternal hope. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

What is God saying to us today? Is He speaking to you? As Christians, it is time that we hear God speak. How? By getting into His Word and studying! Let’s hear God speak and let His Words offer hope, encouragement, direction, purpose for our lives today!