God’s voice is such an odd thing to figure out. Sometimes it is so obvious, sometimes it is way too elusive.
Thursday morning, I woke up and immediately started speaking scripture over my life. And then a random reference was given to me: Deuteronomy 7:8. With very little faith I’d find something useful and applicable there, I pulled out my Bible. I was even a little hesitant to follow up on the prompting, because I didn’t want to deal with what my reaction would be should the passage talk about ritual uncleanness or something like that.
Well, it didn’t. As a matter of fact, it just so happens to be a long-lost highlighted passage in my Bible. And it seems to be right-on regarding where I sense my life to be right now. Take a look:
6 “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. 7 The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; 8 but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
9 “Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;
I haven’t sought the Counselor on all I’m to learn from this word, but it immediately rang true in my spirit. I feel I’m in a calm-before-the-storm time right now–with the storm not necessarily being a bad thing, but a new and powerful thing. A new season.
Sherry was just telling me that very thing–that something new is coming down the pipe for me. And then I told her about the above scripture God gave me and she totally agreed with it. So, we’ll see what happens. Obviously, the end of verse 9 is key in experiencing the faithfulness of our Lord.
I loved the set up for verse 8 in verse 7. God doesn’t choose us based on earthly standards. We can’t earn or warrent the love of God. He simply chooses to love us. His people are a special treasure to Him.
1 Peter 2:9-10 drives this home. It’s so encouraging!
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
God, I love you. It’s so easy to love you because of what you’ve done for me. But I want to learn from you how to love you simply because I choose to–because of who you are, not what you’ve done. What you’ve done for me and continue to do for me is simply a bonus. Thanks for your help on this and for your grace that will see me through.
2 replies on “Word of God”
i love it when you listen and obey those promptings and listen some more. that’s the life!
Joel, do you remember when your dad and I were the primary department Sunday School Superintendents. If you remember, after the worship service there would be a short time, about 20 minutes, when the whole primary department would meet for a group lesson and singing before going to your classes. We taught you scripture songs and Deut.6:9 was one of those songs. Kim Gascho had a solo part in it.
I think scripture memorization is so important for children (and adults), for the Holy spirit can use those verses to help us through life’s trials and to grow us into the image of Christ.
Your dad and I hope to see you this weekend! Love, Mom