From the 40 Days of Daily Bread Series.
Every once in awhile you need to call a handy man to your house. In most cases the conversation is going to be very businesslike. It would be out of place to have him sit down to lunch with you while you talk about your personal life. A conversation like that is intended for friends!
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. John 15:15
Jesus purposed for your relationship status to be more than the indifferent type of talking given to hired help. He calls you His friend in the scripture above. You are still a servant of the Lord and He is still over you in authority, but He wants to be close to you.
Avoiding Spiritual Flakiness
If you believe there is only one way to hear from God, such as His voice, you could get so puffed up thinking you’re so “spiritual” that you could be deceived by a wrong voice. God speaks to you in more than one avenue because it’s safer. You’re not in a glorified body yet. Having different ways that God speaks to you reminds us of His power that transcends your temporal body. He is eternal. A great way to know you have heard from God on a personal (non-doctrinal) issue is when you receive multiple confirmations.
God will not go against His word, so you can verify the voice we hear by seeing if it lines up with Scripture. You can be sure no new doctrine will be given to you specifically because you think you have a special relationship with the Lord.
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 2 Peter 1:20
Apply the Word
This section is to help us respond to His promptings. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22 NKJV
Write the following scriptures and the answers to the questions below in your journal.
To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. John 10:3-4 NKJV
Are you listening?
What do you hear?
Is there clarity or confusion?
Is it His voice?
How do you know it is His voice?
Question: Will you test the voices to see if they line up with the Bible?
Our Daily Bread for tomorrow will be about the various avenues of communication the Father uses to speak. Subscribe so you don’t miss it!
Photo credit: Amber Karnes (Creative Commons)
