When he was at table with them, he took the bread. He blessed the bread, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him!(Luke 24:13-35)

Friday, January 21, 2022

Listening for His voice

 

Jesus was followed by a crowd wanting to hear and be with Him.  So many of them crowded into the house where He was staying that neither He nor the apostles could even eat.  Family and friends became concerned about Him not eating or taking care of Himself [Mark 3:20-21].  Later, He seemed to belittle their efforts to help Him [Mark 3:23-35].   That wasn’t the first time Christ had rebuffed attempts to be cared for. Even as a child Christ had said to His parents, “Do you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” [Luke 2:49]. 

I’ve been thinking today about how many times I didn’t listen to or actively rejected advice from family and friends, even pleadings from those trying to protect me. 

Worse, though, are the many times I’ve refused to listen to God’s voice!  I recognize now, (in my ancient wisdom), that He’s seized me several times in my life in an effort to show me that I was going down the wrong path, that what I sought was not the way to happiness or to Him.   

I understand that it’s corny and trite and completely overused, but the old saying, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life” comes to mind.  With the New Year barely begun, with the rest of my life just starting, I need to remember that when life is out of balance, when nothing seems right, when my wheels spin in the mud and I can’t get traction: that's when I need to listen for His voice. 

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