The Lord Speaks in Many Ways

Bottom Line
“The Lord Speaks in Many Ways”
December 2011

Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?” ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you.’ -- Acts 26:15-16

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” --- “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. -- Luke 1:30-31 & 38

Paul’s conversion and call into service of the Lord Jesus Christ was nothing short of dramatic. Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel was dramatic.

I somehow believe that if we all encountered the Lord in these dramatic ways that we would not hesitate one moment to get up and do His will. But, He doesn’t always speak to us so dramatically, does He? Now do not take me wrong He will do things to get our attention. For Paul it was “a light from heaven, brighter than the sun…” Acts 26:13. For Mary it was the angel Gabriel. For Balaam it was his donkey talking (Numbers 22:28). For Peter, it was a vision (Acts 10:9-22). For Joseph it was dreams (Genesis 37:1-11). For Elijah it was a powerful wind, an earthquake, a fire then “a gentle whisper” (I Kings 19:11-12).

For us today I believe it could be any of the above ways or it could be through a number of other ways like: His Word, a friend, a message on Sunday morning, His Spirit to your spirit while you are in prayer. The point I am trying to make is that God is speaking to us 24/7 and it is not always “sky-writing” or so dramatic that we cannot miss it. I do miss it! I know I do. I admit it. Mainly because it is not always “sky-writing” or very dramatic! Lord, help me to hear You in the simplest of ways. That recently happened to a lady I know. She was ordering inside at a McDonalds and the little register girl commented on her purse. While the lady was waiting for her food to be brought up the Lord spoke to her Spirit to spirit and very simple said, “I want you to give that girl your purse.” There was no blazing light, no angel Gabriel, no powerful wind, or earthquake or fire to get her attention just a simple gentle nudge of the indwelling Holy Spirit -- and she heard. The lady emptied the personal contents of her purse into the bag that her food came in and then presented the girl with her purse. Wow!

There was no dramatic manifestation of the Lord but the result were dramatic and there is no telling how dramatic an impact it had on the girl who was the recipient of the purse. Listen, because of history – recorded through the power of the Holy Spirit -- we now know that the results of Paul’s conversion and obedience to serve the Lord brought the Gospel of Christ to the Gentiles. And that Mary’s response brought forth the Christ child. However, we may never know the results and we may never see the history written concerning our obedience to His Holy Spirit speaking to us. But I firmly believe as we respond positively to the Lord speaking to us in the simplest of ways that over time there is a dramatic result that reverberates down through the ages to come.

Bottom Line: Listen for the still small voice of the Lord. Even at the most unusual times and in the most unusual of places. Listen and be obedient.

Love in Christ,
MG