Spiritual Direction News - February 2012

DO YOU HEAR GOD’S VOICE?

Fellow Pilgrims:

Scripture is full of God’s voice asking questions of individuals. These questions become a choice point or crossroad in this person’s pilgrimage through life. Suddenly we realize our choices can have great, perhaps eternal, consequences. I want to show you some of these questions and how people answered them. Sometimes the question was embedded in a situation and people needed to act, either wisely or foolishly.

God asked Adam (Genesis 3), “Adam, where are you?” This is after the Fall and Adam hid because he was ashamed. God asked Cain (Genesis 4), “Cain, where is your brother?” This is after Cain killed Abel and asked if he was supposed to be his brother’s keeper. God told Abraham to leave behind everything he was familiar with and go to the land, which God will show him. He could have chosen to stay home, but he didn’t. God called to Samuel and (I Samuel 3) and Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” In a vision, the prophet Isaiah heard the Lord (Isaiah 6) ask, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Isaiah responded, “Here am I! Send me.”

Jesus called the disciples individually by saying, “Come, follow me. (John 1) Later in His ministry, Jesus (Matthew 16) asked the disciples, “Who do they say I am?” followed by “Who do you say I am?” After His resurrection, Jesus (John 21) asked Peter if he loved Jesus. Sometimes Jesus appears and people do not recognize Him. He answers the person’s questions. On the Road to Damascus, Paul has Acts 22) an experience of Christ. He asks, “Lord, Who are you?” The answer had to shake Paul to his core since he was busy persecuting Christians. “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.” Nonetheless, Paul stands his ground, accepting the answer that Jesus will give him when he asks, “Lord, what shall I do?” In Acts 19, we read about the sons of Sceva who are attempting to make a buck and gain some fame by emulating Paul in Ephesus by pretending to cure people and cast out demons. A demon confronts them and says, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” The demon proceeds to beat them and drive them from the building.

The choices we make when questions come up in life and from God, can be seen in the Story of the Good Samaritan. Three people saw the wounded man on the road to Jericho. This road had a bad reputation because of the robbers that infested it. In a way, a man traveling by himself on this road is asking for trouble and he found it. Both the Priest and the Levite saw the wounded man and passed by on the other side. To put a charitable interpretation on their actions, both were probably on their way to Jerusalem to fulfill their duty in the Temple. If the wounded man was dead and they touched him, they would be defiled and unable to fulfill their obligation to God through Temple duty. They did not see their obligation to love their neighbor as themselves and help the person in distress (see Matthew 25 and James 1-5). The Samaritan, who was despised by the Jews, stops and takes care of the man. He binds his wounds and takes him to an inn where he will pay for his care until he has recovered. The Samaritan could not do what he did without helpers. The donkey carried the wounded man and the innkeeper promises to care for him. Without a leader and without helpers, the man would probably have died.

How do you answer the questions from God in your own life and circumstances? Galatians 5 shows the stark contrast of life in the Spirit and life outside of the Spirit. Which reflects your life?

I want to close with an African prayer: “O great Chief, light a candle within my heart that I may see what is therein and sweep the rubbish from your dwelling place.” Amen.

In Christ’s love,
Chuck Ellenbaum ><>+
Spiritual Director for Discipleship