Take Time to Listen to Him

Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
September 24, 2024
Genesis 1:31, Revelation 4:11

Genesis 1:31 tells us; “Now, God saw all he had made and it was very good”, not just good but “very good”. In the book of the Revelation we read; “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being”. So, what happened? Why does everything seem so messed up? One answer I have been given was that in His infinite mercy, God gave humankind the gift of free will. Some might say that this proves why they don’t believe in God, why should they if He, who knows everything, is everywhere present, and all powerful lets his own creation destroy itself. Tough one, for sure, but I have hope.

Lewis goes on to say; “Of course God knew what would happen if they used their freedom the wrong way: apparently He thought it worth the risk. Perhaps we feel inclined to disagree with Him. But there is a difficulty about disagreeing with God”. What comes to your mind when you consider what this difficulty might be? Are you thinking that no matter how we feel about what God is or is not doing, He will do what He sees best anyway? OK, makes sense, but it doesn’t help me feel his love. C.S. Lewis puts it this way; “He is the source from which all your reasoning power comes…when you are arguing against Him you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all: it is like cutting off the branch you are sitting on”. Notice he did not say that arguing with God is bad, he just said that it is a useless and maybe even harmful activity, and yet I believe God would much rather have us arguing with him as not communicating with Him at all. Yes, I have been there many times, and most likely will be in the position of disagreeing with God in the future, but hopefully as I draw closer to Him in His word, in prayer and in worship, I will find less and less reason to argue with Him.

How about you? When you find you are angry and arguing with God, keep the conversation two way; in other words, take time to listen to Him. Listen for His Holy Spirit to guide you through the trouble. Feeling guilty about disagreeing with God doesn’t help you hear from Him. Simply speak with Him. He’s as close as the air you use to argue with Him.

Amen!

FYI – next week I will pick up on the final fruit of the Spirit in our series “Nine Fruits of the Spirit” by Robert Strand. We will look into the fruit of “Self-Control”.