Listening to the Word

Ezekiel 4-7; Revelation 3 “’I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.’” Revelation 3:18 When getting advice from an investment counselor, we might be asked if we want short term or long term returns on our investment. Jesus counsels us to invest in eternal returns.   If we are to buy gold, white clothes, and salve from Jesus, what currency do we use? All of these eternal qualities require the humble surrender of our will to Jesus. Our faith is of greater worth than gold, and like gold is refined, tested, and strengthened. Without faith, we cannot please God. By listening to the Word like Abraham, and obeying, we, too, will become rich in faith. It is Jesus who offers us his white clothing of righteousness and right-standing with God. Our self-righteousness, including religious posturing, is like filthy rags. It is hardest to unders...

Ezekiel 1-3; Revelation 2   “’But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.’” Ezekiel 2:8 “’He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.’” Revelation 2:7, 12 How do we listen to the Word in such a way that it transforms us? God’s Word to Ezekiel was to open his mouth and eat the word the Lord gave him as symbolized by a scroll. Are our mouths open in anticipation that God’s Word will feed us? To eat the Word is to chew it, swallow it, and digest it. We find nutrients in God’s Word that strengthen us and build us up in our faith. God speaks to individuals and to churches. His Word is not only food, but also symbolized a sword which comes out of the mouth of the Lord. This sword cuts to our lives dividing soul and spirit, judging the thoughts and intents of our heart. Will we invite the Lord’s discipline, rebuk...

Jeremiah 52; Revelation 1; Psalms 143, 144   “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you…” Psalm 143:8 “I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the Island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus…and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword…” Revelation 1:9, 16 Jesus’ word is a sharp, double-edged sword which came out of his mouth. David put his trust in that sword and submitted his life to the authority of God’s Word. John trusted in that Word and boldly gave witness to the power and resurrection-life found in Jesus. By submitting to that double-edged sword, John was exiled to the Island of Patmos. It is an incredible privilege to listen to the Word, obey it, and share it with others. However, this Word is a sword and it will pierce and cut our lives, even as we call others to know and follow Jesus, the Living Word of God. Have we s...

Jeremiah 50-51; 3 John   “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.” 3 John 9, 10 For many years, John the apostle was Bishop of the churches in the Ephesus region. However, even this loving apostle could not prevent leaders like Diotrephes from causing division and confusion within the church. Diotrephes loved to be first. He could have chaired the church council or elder’s team. But Diotrephes’ pride and divisiveness, along with selfish ambition, meant that John was a threat to him and his leadership. Neither John nor visiting church leaders were welcomed under Diotrephes’ leadership in Ephesus. His leadership was marked by control, fear, competition, and ambition. John pointed this out to Gaius, a wealthy le...

Jeremiah 37-39; Psalms 79; 2 John “Neither he nor his attendants nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet. King Zedekiah, however, sent…this message: ‘Please pray to the Lord our God for us.’” Jeremiah 37:2, 3 Why do we feel we can talk to God without listening to him? King Zedekiah paid no attention to the words the Lord spoke through Jeremiah because they weren’t the words he wanted to hear. However, he wanted Jeremiah to pray to God for the deliverance of Jerusalem. Any healthy relationship requires two way communication and walking with God is no different. If we think we can spiritually manipulate God, we are fools. King Zedekiah refused to humble himself before the Lord, obey his word, and surrender to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Obeying the Lord requires that we listen to his Word, even when it hurts. “Lord God, you are faithful and I will listen and obey your Word, for your glory.”

Jeremiah 33-34; Psalms 74; 1 John 5 This is what the Lord says: ‘If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time, then my covenant with David my servant – and my covenant with the Levites who are priests ministering before me – can be broken…’” Jeremiah 33:20, 21 “The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon…Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord, how foolish people have reviled your name…Have regard for your covenant…” Psalm 74:16, 18, 20 Jeremiah’s prophesy of God’s covenant-keeping nature as evidenced in creation, later became the basis for intercession by the Levites in exile. God’s Word is our best prayer book as we intercede for our lives and those we love. As we appeal to God’s nature, his promises, and his covenants, we remind ourselves that our responsibilities in those covenants are also important. We must grow in faithfulness even as our God is faithful...