He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury, saying, “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” – Psalm 2:4-6.

But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?” – John 6:61-62.

Let God Speak

Otto Von Bismarck, the Iron Chancellor of Germany, hated going to doctors, but one time he was seriously ill and had no choice. When the doctor said he could help him, Bismarck replied, “O.K., but don’t ask me a lot of questions.” The doctor shot back, “then you’d better go to a vet.”

People treat God like Bismarck treated the doctor; they don’t want him to interject his thoughts into the conversation. They feel free to express their views, but why does God have to express his: God must have the opportunity to have his say to explain himself. Listening to God precedes understanding him. Really listening! That’s why Jesus often began or ended a teaching by declaring “Hear this, all of you.”

Courtesy of Speaker’s Sourcebook of New Illustrations by Virgil Hurley copyright © 1995 by Word, Incorporated. Used by permission.

*Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Applicable Quotations

I used to ask God to help me.  Then I asked if I might help him.  I ended up by asking him to do his work through me. – Taylor

God nowhere tells us to give up things for the sake of giving them up.  He tells us to give them up for the sake of the only thing worth having- life with Himself. – Oswald Chambers

God keeps up a continual conversation with every creature. – Claudel

How can you expect God to speak to you in that gentle and inward voice which melts the soul, when you are making so much noise with your rapid reflections?  Be silent, and God will speak again. – Francois Fenelon