Saturday, April 17, 2004

 

Dear Family:

 

During the last couple of years much has been made about President Bush's ability to communicate. He follows two Presidents who were considered "great communicators". Some joke about his ability to pronounce words and names.

 

There is a story in the Old Testament which is one of the most important in the Bible. It is the story of Abraham's trip to the mountains to give a burnt offering to God.

 

Gen 22:1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." (NKJ)

 

In Verse 1 there are several significant things which happened. First God tested Abraham. Second God spoke to Abraham. Third Abraham heard God speak. Fourth Abraham replied to God.

 

First, God tested Abraham

 

I seldom find real joy in the tests God puts in my life, at least during the tests. It is only after the tests that I look back and think this was a test to prepare me for an assignment or this was a test to see if I am where I need to be in my relationship with God.  It would be really nice if I were committed and spiritually mature enough to never have to be tested but that just isn't the case. I hate it when I become high minded and self dependent and have to be brought back to my proper place. Sometimes I have to ask myself, "If I were not important in God's eyes would I be tried? If God did not love me, would He bother with testing me?" So I have to look at testing as evidence that I am in God's thoughts. He is preparing me for His service. Sometimes He is preparing me to receive a blessing I could not otherwise receive and other times He is preparing me to give a blessing I could not otherwise give. If we compare our spiritual growth to our educational growth, we would be amazed at the number of tests we go through. During the 12, 14, 16 or 20 years we spend getting our diploma or degree, we expect the tests and prepare for them because we want to pass with flying colors. Wouldn't it be great to always make the honor roll when we are tested by God?

 

 

2 Tim 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NKJ)

 

All scripture is given for reproof, correction and instruction, and why? He is preparing us "That we might be complete and equipped for every good work." 

 

2 Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (KJV)

 

So, we must study the word of God so we can hear Him when He speaks to us through His word to instruct us as to how to be approved of Him as a workman.

 

1Thes 2:4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. (NKJ)

 

And when we are approved of God we are entrusted with the gospel which we speak in words not watered down to please men but to please God who tests our hearts. So be thankful when you are tested and use the test to learn from God and His purpose for your life. Learn to be thick skinned and soft hearted. I have said before it is not good to have thin skin and a hard heart. If you have a thin skin everything everyone does is seen as a personal attack on you and if you have a hard heart nothing you do to others bothers you for they deserve it.  

 

Second, God spoke to Abraham

 

Hebrews says God spoke to men in times past in various ways but more recently by His Son. Therefore I should be in communication with the Son. We may not hear His voice come in thunder as it did when God spoke to Moses or when Christ was baptized. God will speak to us with a still small voice that pulls at our heart. He will continue until we listen or until we harden our hearts and minds to the point we can no longer feel Him or hear that small inner voice.

 

Heb 1:1-2 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; (NKJ)

 

God speaks to us in many ways. Sometimes it is through others. Sometimes it is through His word and sometimes it is when we pray and meditate. He plants those messages in our mind but how can He speak to us if we do not open the lines of communication through bible study, prayer and meditation?

 

We must be turned on and tuned in. If we are not prepared to hear God we will not hear Him. The gospel of John says, "we must be born again." That is getting connected to the spiritual highway. We must be born of the spirit and that only happens when we confess that we are sinners, repent (turn from our old ways) and ask God to forgive us, cleanse us and give us a new heart. He will and He will put us on line by putting the Holy Spirit in our hearts so He can communicate with us.

 

Third, Abraham heard God speak

 

In this age of email and cell phones, we just do not seem to be in touch if we are not on line or on the cell. It doesn't do much good if we are not connected to the internet or have the phone turned off.

 

We put filters and firewalls on our internet connection to block popup ads and to protect against bugs, scripts and viruses. We do the same with God. We build these little firewalls and filters around ourselves to prevent Him from speaking to us. We saturate our minds with things we know God would never approve of. We sin, hurt and insult others and never say I'm sorry, forgive me to them or to God. We just don't ask him to forgive us and cleanse us. This causes a firewall that God will not penetrate. When we say to ourselves, "this is just a little lie, or this won't hurt anything," we are building firewalls between us and God and we are building firewalls between us and those we are supposed to show God's love to.

 

We need to tear down those walls. Go to God in prayer and ask Him to, "show you the walls" and tear them down and cleanse your heart so God can speak to you.

 

Fourth, Abraham replied to God

 

Abraham said, "Here am I." Abraham invited God to speak His instruction. He said this is where I am, he was honest with God. So where are you? Are you where you can speak to God? Are you like Adam and Eve hidden in the brush so God cannot see you? Where are you? Can you say to God, "you are welcome where I am?" Where are you? Can you speak freely to Him without being ashamed or fearful of being heard? Where are you? I am here, I'm ready to hear. Is that where you are? That is where God wants us to be.

My firewall pops up on my screen each time some program tries to connect to the internet and every time an internet program tries to connect to my computer, it asks do you want server xxx.xxx.xx to be able to connect to your computer. I can say, "yes" or I can say, "no." It is up to me to say, "yes", I want to communicate with God. Here am I.

 

Love Ya

 

Dad