Where's God now?

A lot of people today think God is no longer relevant.  Has he forgotten us?  Is he sleeping?  In Bible times, he spoke so loudly with fire and thunder on the mountain that the people begged for God NOT to talk to them, but to talk to Moses instead.  "Moses please don't make us listen to God because we will surely die!  Instead you go talk to him for us.  Then we will listen and do what he says." (Exodus 19 and 20)  If God came in such a powerful way now, would we be ready? 

Recognize him

When Jesus arrived on the scene, they were expecting something different.  They were expecting a big, bold earthly king.  Like their revered King David only bigger and better!  They thought the Messiah would rally the Jews to rise up, throw out the Romans, and strengthen an independent nation of Israel.  But God's plan was different.  He sought to open his kingdom to everyone in the whole world!  His kingdom was not a kingdom of swords and rulers, but of the heart.  He wanted to start a revelation of the heart.  Jesus came to turn our thinking upside down!  

Jesus said "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."  (Mark 10: 42b-45)

Perhaps today we also don't recognize Jesus when he acts in the world or in our lives.  We may not see fire from heaven, but we do see people giving of themselves to help others.  Take note of those who peacefully work for change in society.  We can watch God change someone's heart.  God speaks through his Bible and those who faithfully teach it.

Open Hearts

The religious leaders of God's chosen people made sure that they followed every detail of the law and that everyone saw that they did.  When they visited a home, they would seek the place of honor because they believed they were better than others.  But they missed the point!  God's laws were to set the standard for holiness.  God's people were to be different than other people of the time, held to a higher standard.  But the leaders missed the point because they did not take care of the people, did not love them and teach them right from wrong, instead stood ready to accuse and condemn. (See John 12:37-43)

They sought to raise themselves up by putting others down, and they were not ready to relinquish any power to someone else.  They heard about the many miracles Jesus did -- healing people of diseases and afflictions, feeding the huge crowd of five thousand, and raising Lazarus from the dead.  How could they be so stubborn to ignore the displays of God's love and power!  Wouldn't you listen to a man who did such wonderful, miraculous things?!  But instead they questioned him and tried to ensnare him.  Their eyes and hearts were closed to God's message of love.  They were too busy holding on to their own positions and prestige. (See Mark 3:1-6)

Today our hearts are also hardened to God.  We can get caught up in looking like we're doing the right thing, putting on our mask of righteousness, that we also miss the point.  We try to have the best job, best house, best kids, best marriage.  We post on Facebook so everyone can see how perfect our lives are, when they are really whitewashed tombs, full of decay and death--selfishness, addiction, pride, deceit.  We must humble ourselves and allow God's light of truth into our lives.     

Be humble, be ready

Most who listened to Jesus were already humble people.  Going back to the virgin birth...the first people that God announced the new king to were shepherds!  Shepherds were considered the lowest ranked people of that time.  There was no honor to be gained as a shepherd.  And yet God chose them to hear the great news first!  They could have made excuses--'We're too busy, we have all these sheep here sleeping, it's too far.'  Instead they rushed to see the new born king and told others the news, praising God.  (See Luke 2: 8-20)

Even lower than shepherds were ranked children. They were not treasured then as they are today.  Children had no status.  Yet Jesus welcomed them, saying "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Mark 10:14b-15)

The shepherds and children were not too worried about deadlines and appearances. Jesus wants us to be humble and open to receive his love as simply as a child. 

Ask questions

What about the woman at the well.  If you met someone who you aren't supposed to even talk to and they knew all your darkest secrets, how would you react?  Perhaps with a denial?  Ignore them and run away?  Instead this woman's eyes were opened.  She knew that Jesus was something special and she wanted to know more about his living water.

"Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,  “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him....Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:39-42)

Jesus even made time for Nicodemus, though he skulked to Jesus at night with his questions.  Nicodemus was a Pharisees, a religious ruler.  The religious leaders were trying to get rid of Jesus. Apparently Nicodemus was able to see God's power through Jesus' works and was ready to learn.  "[Nicodemus] came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” (John 3:2b)  Jesus starts teaching about being born again by the Spirit.  Nicodemus asks for him to explain.  

Jesus helps him understand,  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." (John 3: 16-18)

Go ahead and ask the questions, seek the answers.  'Is Jesus the savior?  How do I become saved?  How do I know God?'  God wants us to know him, he does not hide.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matt 7:7-8)

Seeking Christ today.

Will we be ready when Jesus speaks to us?  Are we his sheep that recognize his voice?  We need to ask the right questions too.  We can't be distracted by our own pride or expectations of God.  We should not be caught up in our petty differences over the workings of the church.  Don't be caught up in appearances and gossip.  Instead earnestly, humbly seek Jesus-- reading the Bible, praying and listening for his words.  Don't be surprised as our lives are changed, our churches are caught up in revival that spreads to our community as we humbly reach out to others in love.  God wants us to be his voice to the world!