Sometimes an object can best be described not by stating what it is, but by stating what it is not.
I’ve sought to employ this method in Part One of this series on Hearing God. Now we can go on to examine why a true Child of God can hear God’s Voice.
“Excuse me, but couldn’t you just tell us how to hear God’s Voice?”
Hmmm…I suppose so; but let me ask you a question: If God asks you to do something that puts you at personal risk or has a negative impact on your relationships, would you do it?
“I think so…I don’t know. My reputation means a lot to me.” God’s Reputation means a lot to Him also, and this is an important Key to hearing God: When God’s Reputation becomes more important to you than your own, hearing His Voice will become easier.
“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself.” – Jesus Christ, Matthew 7:17“
It all comes down to your Personal Prime Directive: the top three to seven priorities that shape your attitude, feelings, thinking, observations and decisions.
Survival
Self-Image (how I appear to myself)
Public Image (how I appear to others)
Family
Friends
Acquaintances
…99. God
The Christian operates under an “unusual” set of directives:
0. God’s Glory… 1. God-Image (how I appear to God) 2. etc…
What humans find difficult to grasp is that, until Lucifer decided that he was more important than God, THIS “UNUSUAL” SET OF DIRECTIVES WAS HOW EVERYONE LIVED…
…and Joy was all there was…Joy unspeakable and full of glory (1st Peter 1:8)!
I know, I know…such a philosophy may appear impractical and unrealistic. Perhaps it will help you to know that God has not asked anything of us that He Himself has not been engaged in from all of Eternity. What I mean is that you, dear Reader have ALL of God’s Attention, Love and Focus…twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, fifty-two weeks a year going back as long as He has existed.
“The Lord appeared to me from afar, saying, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.” – Jeremiah 31:3 “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” – Jesus Christ, Matthew 10:30 “’Can a man hide himself in hiding places so I do not see him?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?’ declares the Lord.” – Jeremiah 23:24
The practical implications of these Scriptures are staggering. It is literally impossible for you to give God more love and attention than He has given you (not to mention the gift of existence He has granted you). In light of this fact it seems completely fair for Moses to say:
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” – Deuteronomy 6:4, 5
Grace
At this point I need to stop and provide some perspective: there’s not a lot of Christians who start their relationship with God at this level of reality. Years of ignorance, negative experiences and unknown but cherished lies about reality, self and God make that quite difficult. Nevertheless, this is where God is taking all of His Children, and He doesn’t rush anybody; but with transcendent patience, pity and compassion He meets each son and daughter where they are then woos them to greener pastures and purer streams of life-giving water.
That being said, the Father is persistent, and will not be completely satisfied until the Character of His Only-Begotten Son Jesus Christ is fully reproduced in every son and daughter.
In Part Three I shall attempt to inject new meaning into a very old word.
(LISTEN to this blog-post on any of TEN podcast platforms!)