If God were to speak audibly to me, what might He say?

In the Gospels, we see angels sent as messengers, speaking on behalf of God.  But how often do we actually see the Father speaking audibly?

At Jesus’ baptism, the Father spoke.  “This is my Son, whom I love.  With Him I am well pleased!”  We know that at least John the Baptist and Jesus heard this.

The only other time I can think of the Father speaking audibly to the disciples is at the Transfiguration.  On this occasion, He spoke to Peter, James and John.

“This is my Son, whom I have chosen.  Listen to Him!”

Three simple words.

Listen. To. Him.

The Father could have said anything.  He said “listen!”   Listening is a forgotten skill.  Listening to Jesus… that might be a skill we’ve yet to learn.

Be still.  Be quiet.  Meditate.  Shut the world out, and lock in to His voice.

Jesus said He is the Good Shepherd, that He knows His sheep, and His sheep recognize His voice.

The only way you learn to recognize someone’s voice is to spend a lot of time with them, to spend a lot of time listening to them.

Do I spend enough time with Jesus that I recognize His voice?

And when He speaks, am I listening to Him?

Or do I listen to Jesus like I listen to so many other people?  Half listening, half thinking about what I want to say.  Jumping to conclusions about what I think they’ll say and tuning them out.  Only hearing what I want to hear and filtering everything else out.

I can be a bad listener.  I’ve never heard it this way, but I know it’s true, otherwise the Father wouldn’t have said it to Peter, James and John.

Leaders are listeners.

A leader who can’t listen forfeits their right to lead.  This is never more true than is spiritual leadership.

Leaders listen first to Jesus, their Leader.  Then they listen to those they lead, because we can’t love if we don’t listen.

“This is my Son, whom I have chosen.  Listen to Him!”

Yes, Father, yes!  That is the cry of my heart!

 

To learn more about Walking As Jesus Walked and Discipling As Jesus Discipled, visit:  SONLIFE.COM

“And how do I know who my neighbors are?”

This question can be a daunting, even haunting one…  when you’re reading it in Haiti!

“You must love God with your whole heart, with all your being and all your strength.  And you must love your neighbor as yourself.”

And just how do I know who my neighbors are?  It’s easy for me to read Jesus’ story and look with disdain on the priest and the Levite for passing by…  when I’m sitting in the comforts of my home…  and the needs are mostly theoretical.

But when I’m in Haiti, the question from this teacher of the Law becomes much more real for me.

I’m surrounded by poverty, hunger, sickness, oppression, need.  Everywhere I look, it stares back at me.  And most people look to me as an answer to their need.

Open Door Haiti educates and feeds over 500 children here in the village.  We treat over 1000 patients a month at our medical center.  We care for 50 orphans at our children’s home.  All that and more.

But I still ask, “And who is my neighbor?”

I ask it when someone asked me this week to help them fix the tire on their bike.

I ask it when someone asked me this week to help them pay their school fees.

I ask it when someone asked me this week to help them with the cost of their wedding.

I don’t imagine that I’ll ever stop asking.  It’s a complex issue.  What are my cultural biases?  How do I view poverty?  How do I view needs?

But it can also be simple.  Walk in the Spirit.  Listen to His promptings.  Do what He asks?  When the Spirit open your eyes to see a need, it’s time to act.  It’s this simple.

See a need.  Meet a need. 

That’s what the Good Samaritan did.

 

To learn more about Walking As Jesus Walked and Discipling As Jesus Discipled, visit:  SONLIFE.COM