How Does God Speak?

How does God speak to people today? Does He speak? It has been a burning question in my mind. The goal of the Christian life is to become more Christ-like. Remember what Jesus said in John 5:30 30 “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. " If I desire to do what Jesus did, then necessarily I should do nothing on my own initiative, but listen for the voice of God. Wow! That seems like a pretty tall order.

Since those are my marching orders, I should find out how God has chosen to speak to me. The first hint comes from Hebrews 1:1-2 "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world." That is some comfort. At least I know that I am not waiting for God to speak through the Urim and Thummim, ("lights and perfections", Exodus 28:30, Leviticus 8:8, Numbers 27:21, Deuteronomy 33:8, 1 Samuel 28:6, Nehemiah 7:65), or from a burning bush. It is small comfort however, because now I need to figure out how to hear the voice of God's son. I have another hint in John 1:1-5, 14 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. . . And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." Who or what is the Word? It is obvious from the context of the passage that Jesus Himself is the Word, or the λόγος (logos). It is an interesting and difficult thing to contemplate. Jesus is the savior, the Son of God, the Lord and the WORD. The word λόγος is also used to designate the Scriptures themselves. 2 Timothy 2:15 "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."

There is an intimate connection between Jesus and the Word of God, the Bible. I submit that in order to hear God's voice, we must not only hear, but obey the Word. John 3:36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” 1 John 2:5 5 "but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him."

I made the connection between faith and obedience in an earlier post. That is not my intention today. This topic is heavy on my mind because of recent circumstances in my personal life. I have been working with my company for almost three years and have made very little income for my efforts. In another post I explained that the chief partner in my company wanted to renegotiate my pay plan on the exact day that I was due my first substantial paycheck. I balked and he countered with "my proposal is off the table" and "our business relationship is over". I haven't seen a cent. This has put my family and me in a pretty precarious position. I have to say that God has orchestrated the circumstances in my life in such a way as to drive me to my knees and to force me to ask the question: What do I do now? The corollary question MUST be asked: How can I hear your voice?

I am sure that almost every Bible loving Christian will agree with me, when I say that following the PRINCIPLES of Scripture could certainly be construed as hearing God's voice. Practically speaking, loving your neighbor, living with your wife in an understanding way and turning the other cheek are principles from the Bible that could be considered as "God's voice". Since we are to do NOTHING, except that which God tells us to do, however, there MUST be something more in the Bible than just principles.

God must speak from His Word in more than just principles, parables and proverbs. I believe that when we are walking with Him and living in the center of His will, He really does speak in more than just an academic way. Remember in the Old Testament, that King David was asking God for SPECIFIC answers to SPECIFIC questions, and God answered him SPECIFICALLY. Jesus asked God the Father for specific answers and He answered in a specific way. I was reading 1 Thessalonians 4:11 "and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you", and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I believe that I have sinfully attempted to push God into a corner as far as my career choice is concerned. I have told Him that He needs to afford me a career that "fits into my lifestyle" and then I will be happy to follow His commands. Hogwash! Here was this verse, His λόγος slapping me in my face. On Monday, I will start my new job with an excavation company.

God is speaking. I am listening. I feel better already!

His servant,

D. L. Culiver