“Today, if you will hear His voice…harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7
Dear Ones:
One of the great messages of Genesis 1, where we are looking at the creation of the world and universe, is this: when God speaks, there is a result. This is a consistent principle and reality seen throughout Scripture, spanning thousands of years. In Isaiah 55, we see this concept clearly declared: “So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall NOT return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (55:11) The written word of God would eventually be encapsulated, and expressed most eloquently and completely in the Living Word, Christ. Every time that He spoke, there was an effect. Christ’s speaking, His words, were the means by which God would bless the world. This is HIS way.
After Pentecost, when the Spirit of God was poured out upon all flesh, the word of God was SPOKEN by the Spirit. We find that, not only did the Spirit of God intervene to lead, guide, and strengthen the disciples to be the witnesses that God intended them to be, but also He SPOKE to the disciples. “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit SAID, ‘Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work where-unto I have called them.” (Acts 13:2) The Lord Jesus would declare to His disciples, “…the sheep hear His voice: and He calls His own sheep by name, and leads them out.” (Jn. 10:3) In the letter to the Laodiceans, the Lord Jesus said, “If any man hear My voice…and open the door, I will come into him.” (Rev. 3:20) God, by His Spirit speaks today to the individual heart. It is important to always remember that when He speaks, or calls, He does so to accomplish a work and His purposes.
When Habakkuk received His vision from God concerning the fall of Jerusalem, he wrote: “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what He will SAY unto me…” (2:1) Here is a man who is living in the reality and expectation, that God will speak to him…and this, clearly and powerfully. Numerous have been the hymn-writers, who through the years, have expressed the same reality. E.M. Grimes wrote these words: “Speak, Lord, in the stillness, While I wait on Thee; Hush’d my heart to listen, In expectancy. Speak, O blessed Master, In this quiet hour; Let me see Thy face , Lord, Feel Thy touch of power.” Grimes is expressing the same expectant faith in Christ as did Habakkuk, David, the apostles, and numerous believers till this very day. God still speaks today…clearly and convincingly, always with a purpose which He will accomplish. Do we believe this, and are we listening?
Dear Father, give us ears to hear Thy blessed voice, a voice that gives life, hope, and power. Give us grace to live in the expectancy of the great reality that You speak today to the heart that is listening, truly willing to trust and obey. Accomplish in us Your blessed will and purpose as You speak to our hearts. Quicken us to respond in obedient faith, for Your sake and glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad