"Then
call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me." (Job 13:22)
We often think about the latter part: God hearing and answering
when we call. But what about
the first half? Do I listen and answer when He calls?
"Thou
shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of
thine hands." (Job 14:15)
Share a verse that God has given you today or copy the button if you'd like to join in Word Wednesdays with your blog!
6 comments:
Wow!!! What a great verse and a good thought!!! Yes, too sadly and too often we only think about God being there for us, not us being "available" for God!
Thanks so much for sharing!!! This blessed and encouraged me today!!! ;)
~Beth ;)
Thanks for your encouragement, Elizabeth! I'm thankful that it was a blessing! :) I've been enjoying your Wednesday posts too (though Blogger won't let me comment . . .). Keep sharing!
Love ya!
~Amanda
"I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving." (Psalms 69:30)
Thanks for sharing, Amanda! How true it is that often our first concern is with God answering us, then we are about answering Him. Yet if we did listen more attentively to call, we may very well find the answer to our own question.
"And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him."
Genesis 18:17-19
Here we see why Abraham was called "the friend of God" and "the Father of Faith". In commanding his household to keep the way of the Lord, he was demonstrating his faith in this unseen God and the friendship he shared with God. Abraham wanted those who under his influence and authority to keep the way of the Lord just as he had done. How about us? Maybe we don't have servants or children,but we do have ones who are under our influence (siblings, friends, those we are mentoring). Does our influence cause them to seek the way of the Lord or do we insist they seek our way and what we think is right?
I just wanted a share a few verses from the beginning of I Corinthians 4 that spoke to me.
First of all verses 1 & 2
"Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful."
Most people/preachers use the 2nd verse here during a Stewardship (Giving) Conference and in lessons about how to handle your money. Which is a good thing, but the thing that stands out to me is that in the verse before it's talking about being stewards of the mysteries of God (the grace of God and salvation for mankind). I believe this is talking more about our responsibility to be faithful to spread the Gospel to those around us, or in obedience to God's call to a foreign field.
2nd thing:
verses 3-5
"But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest
the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God."
Some of the wording in this passage is a little difficult/confusing, yet the thing that stood out to me was not necessarily "don't judge other people", but "don't always be worried what others are thinking about you". I know that the first quote is definitely a part of what this passage is talking about, and the Lord has helped me so much and brought me a long way in that area to truly see people for who they are. A bigger thing for me, is that I worry to much what people think about me and what kind of impression I'm making on them, instead of "am I surrendered to Christ, obedient to what He's showing me, and am I a reflection of Him" at that point, everything will fall into place. And in the end, I can't really even judge myself, much less other people, but God is the ultimate judge and rewarder of all.
Lastly, verse 7 (which leads back to the previous ones)
"For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?"
By the same concept that I'm worried what others think of me, I am thinking of myself more highly than I ought, basically the root of it is pride and how good I am and what I do, instead of what God has done in my life, and any thing that may be praiseworthy in me, is Christ transformation and work in my life.
Well, I know this was a little more extended than usual, but just wanted to share.
Love you,
Janell
Hey Kenzi!
The power of influence. Honestly, this is something that has been weighing heavily on my mind recently. We can't even BEGIN to know how many people are watching us. Will they see us, like faithful Abraham, standing firm in our faith to God? or will they watch us become defeated against the attack of the enemy?
Thanks for sharing from your Bible reading. Oh, may the Lord help us to use our influence for His glory and honor!
~Amanda
"Thou wilt shew me the path of life; in Thy presence is fulness of joy, at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11
Janell,
Thanks for sharing "more than normal." I appreciated it. Those are indeed some heavy thoughts to ponder.
I agree that the stewardship is not merely on monetary value, but more importantly, on the Jewels that God has entrusted to us through His Word.
Ah, judgment. Don't we all need more and more and more reminders on that topic!?
Thanks so much for sharing; I really enjoyed reading what the Lord taught you!
~Amanda
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5
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