Devotion
Finding the desire to hear God
David Jacobs
Our church recently did a series of workshops on listening. The participants got to experience what it feels like to not be listened to, feeling anger and frustration. Then we discussed what is more important when listening, ability or the desire to listen? Overwhelmingly, people said they were now realizing how important it is to want to listen.
The principles in the Scriptures teach us the way to live holy lives. But in order to receive God's instructions, we must learn how to hear Him speak through His Word.
In the days of Nehemiah, the Israelites who helped to rebuild Jerusalem were good listeners. After working together to restore the city wall, they asked Ezra to read to them from the scrolls containing God's laws. The reading lasted for hours, during which time the people stood and listened intently as the scribe read. They had come together, intent on learning about God's character and determined to follow His plan. For this reason, the Levites translated "to give the sense so that [the people] understood the reading" (Nehemiah 8:8).
Understanding what pleases the Lord is essential so we can obey His plan. That means we must be good listeners who develop greater, attentiveness and zeal for Him, so that when we hear his word being preached, we will be filled with the desire to hear it. As we learn, we should be prepared not only to share the Word with others but also to explain it so they, too, can know God and obey.
Prayer
The voice of God might be coming from places we don't expect it. As seekers of God's holy way, we must constantly keep our ears open to his word, whether it comes from a church leader or from a child. At the same time, we must stay vigilant and use judgment to make sure that what we are hearing is not from someone trying to deceive us and lead us away from God's plan.
Devotion
Culpability
Frances Taylor
This is an interesting passage because, among other things, it talks about sin and who is considered guilty of sin. Paul is talking about how he has been forgiven, how God has been merciful to him because his actions were committed in unbelief. In order for sin to be committed, one needs to know he is committing it. No one can commit sin in retrospect. Sin is always a deliberate act. This can be hard for some to understand. Actions can be considered sinful, even though the person committing them may not be culpable. For example, lying is a sin. However, is the two year old hiding behind the curtains sinning when he or she claims not to have broken the vase? No, because the child has no understanding of the difference between truth and lie. Those who do not have a relationship with God, who do not know the commandments, who have never heard of Jesus, may commit sinful actions, but are not guilty of sin. This is what Paul claims is his situation. Paul ...
Morning Prayer
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, ) full of grace and truth.
Inspiration
When the Lord sent his only Son, he sent also his word. For his body was this very word made flesh. Importantly this was not simply a manifestation of God's word, but also rather an 'animation' of it (meant here in the original Latin as 'animare' –'to instill with life or spirit'), an instance of God's love and divine grace in action, among us.
Prayer
Lord, I am grateful for your mercy in showing us your word made flesh so that we may be redeemed. Further, I am grateful to you for showing us your love and grace through your only begotten son. Let his body not have been torn and broken for no avail, but feed us now in the Eucharist. Let not his blood have...
