I have started on one of those “Read Through
the Bible in a Year” programs for 2013. I have done this annually for many years but
have dropped the practice in the last few for a variety of reasons.
Nonetheless, I believe it is vital to get the full scope of Scripture and there
are no shortcuts in getting there. You just have to sit down and read. I
believe that the Gospel is found in the entire Bible, not just in select verses
that evangelicals have hyper-focused on for the last several decades. It was
NT Wright and a few others who have asked the poignant question: Do we actually need
to read the whole of Scripture to arrive at a clear and full understanding of
the gospel?” Sadly, most will unequivocally say that you need to engage the
full corpus of Scripture, but in real time their lives deny the fact.
Okay, to my point… while reading through the
Pentateuch I was once again arrested by the narrative of how God led the nation
Israel with a “Pillar of Cloud and a Pillar of fire.” These two images represented God’s
presence for the people. To simply state the scenario, God firmly instructed
them that their role was to unreservedly follow Him in fire and the cloud. When
the cloud and fire moved, they all were to “Pack up the babies and grab the old ladies” and follow (sorry, I could not resist the temptation to quote a Neil
Diamond song). When it was stationary, the nation pitched their tents and
hunkered down. Pretty simple, right? I am being serious when I say that my dog
Buckley could track with those commands. Buckley come! Buckley stay! Bam. This
is easy stuff.
Now to the present–a group of us are
embarking on a new church plant here in Spokane (it is called Immanuel Church).
The clear marching orders from God so far are… ready? “Listen!” That's right, simply
listen. Once again simple, easy – right? Nope. As the quasi-leader of this new
tribe I realized that listening is not my long suit. I have listened… once or
twice. 🙂 I have even taught on
“listening.” See, I’m a “teller” not a “listener.” Ok, how I put that was kinda overstated, but… Anyway, as a value, I believe with all
my heart that today's best type of leader must possess in her/his
"tool-box" a highly refined discipline of listening–to others, to their
own heart, and to God (as a friend and I like to call – a tri-phonic approach).
- Ok, our listening to God test is being taken: As of now, not an epic
fail! More like a failing forward. - However, Immanuel's resolve: live into the
listening life of a follower community. We're commited.
2 questions:
- How are you at listening to God? I know some find it easier than others, so it
wouldn’t surprise me if some of you find a listening posture your natural
repose. - What has made listening easier/more effective
for you?
Seriously, I/we need help!
r
Thanks so much for dropping in.
Sounds like God is really working with and on you. Listening is one of the most difficult disciplines to master, but most needed. I will be praying for you on the important decisions that are ahead for you and your fiancé. May God’s good Spirit guide you.
Happened across these posts about listening, when, ironically, I was briefly procrastinating on doing anything productive.
They speak to me a lot right now, as during Lent what I’ve decided to “give up” is the extra noise in the background of my everyday life, while also adding more intentional times of stillness. Growing up in a family of nine, I’ve always been comforted by having noise going on in the background. From that, and the fact that I always have a million things to do (don’t we all?), it’s always been a struggle of mine to actually sit still and embrace silence. But silence has to be embraced if our hearts are ever going to hear that still, small voice of God speaking to us. Telling us when to move. Telling us when to stay.
I really love Bonhoeffer’s quote from Life Together:
“The day also needs definite times of silence, silence under the Word and silence that comes out of the Word. The stillness of the temple is the sign of the holy presence of God in His Word.”
Sometimes when I’m at a transitional period where I really need to be listening for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, on top of making time to sit in silence, I try to invite more silence into the rhythm of my daily life. Because I’ve learned that sometimes God also chooses to speak to us when we aren’t sitting down.
Thanks for sharing these posts about listening!
I’m sorry, were you saying something. I was just talking to myself. 🙂
To listen to God, I believe I need to hold still much longer than I am accustomed to. There is also a watchful aspect to living and going through my day I believe that is part of listening to Him. Thanks for being honest with where you are at in listening.