September 6, 2022 – Reflections on “Listen to the Voice!”

      But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23.

         Who created us and placed us on this earth? What purpose do we have on earth? And then during a time of painful rehab, missing my everyday life, I found the reason we placed here. So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31.

         But how was this possible after a fall to give God the glory? All I could do then was endure rehab through pain. This was the turning point that said, ‘Life isn’t over, you can still glorify God!’

         Recently I found a video about three men, one the pilot, flying into stormy clouds. The pilot explained, I pass out and cannot fly in clouds. Immediately he passed out and the remaining men did not know how to fly the plane with its bank of instruments. They found the radio, and connected with a nearby airport, who assessed the situation, and gave the terse directions. “Listen to the Voice!” The two men could see nothing because of the clouds, but they could hear the Voice. Their choice was to crash or listen and obey the Voice.

         This is exactly our situation in our journey of life. We hear many voices coming from all different directions on how to live a happy and successful life. There is only One Voice that provides the guidance for a forever life with our Lord, with an inheritance that is ‘out of this world’.

         Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s, who sent me. “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:24-26.

         The Father God, Jesus the Christ, and the Holy Spirit speak with one Voice. The Fruit of the Spirit and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit come through the way we live with Jesus, and the way we spend our lives in serving Jesus. How does the way we live with meaning begin? By believing and trusting in Jesus. And without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6.

         How does this faith begin? In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1. He spoke the Creation into existence. Out of nothing, He created all we see. Why did He do so? Love. Then He sent His Son into the world. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3:16-17.

         What is the first of the Fruit of the Spirit? LOVE! Each time I read Galatians 5:22-23, I ask myself if I live showing the Fruit of the Spirit, for this becomes our character on this earth. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law.

         Each of the fruit builds on and through LOVE. How are we to love? “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35.

         The gifts or talents we are given are tools for ministry to bring others to Jesus. Jesus told His disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8. And this was so on Pentecost day… And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. This is the way the disciples received the Holy Spirit.

         When I was baptized at 8, our minister said this, “In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I baptize you…” Just recently I thought about the One Voice–‘In the Name’. Singular, not plural. One voice we listen for.

         The Gifts of the Holy Spirit include Pastor, Teacher, Service Exhortation, Giving, Mercy, Word of Wisdom and Knowledge, Faith.

         How does this begin? By meditating day and night on His Word! I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. Psalm 119:15-16.

         Who knows the way? Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”

          So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13:13.

         The secret to fruitful Listening is Obedience. Without obedience, the promise of eternal life, our inheritance, will not be ours. We learn to listen and obey from our first teachers, our parents. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Ephesians 6:1-3.

         Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17.

Note: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RfkCc5Tlyo This is the link to watching the Video of Listen to the Voice.