Read Ruth 1

There is an unmistakable and often inexplicable attraction to the presence of the Lord. His presence is not manufactured or conjured. His presence is revealed, unparalleled and unrivaled. There is nothing quite like it and there never will be. We are created to know him and he is there to be known. His presence shakes you to the core. His power and authority terrifies you yet his mercy and love breaks your heart and brings you to tears. The presence of the Lord is not something experienced because of us but in spite of and through us. We don’t deserve to know him but by his grace and love for us, he continues to say, “I am here at the door. I continue to knock.” When people are drawn to the Lord, they are drawn to HIM. We are broken vessels that reveal his glory and power but always through our weakness and need for him. His greatness is not revealed to the world through our greatness. Rather, the presence of the Lord draws people because nothing is as sovereign, as merciful, as powerful or as real as Him. The presence of the Lord has the power to draw you away from anything and anyone causing you to lose all things to have him and him alone. The decision to respond to his calling is not grounded in a rationality that the world can understand, and so the world will often view your decision to lose everything to know Him alone as foolish, childish and even pathetic. However, when our eyes are opened to the experience of his presence and the promises of his word revealed in Jesus Christ there is no option to weigh the opposing side of the scale. There is only Him.  There is not other name but the name above all names.  Jesus.  People will ask, “Why would you choose to give everything up to follow God?” The answer to this question is not one that aims to explain or prove the existence of God. The answer to this question is a testimony coupled with an invitation. The answer to this question is, “Because He is the Lord Almighty. He has been calling me and I have finally heard. I am known by Him and He knows my name. He is my Lord and my God. There is no one like him. Do you know him?”

 

Read Judges 6

The God of the Bible is a God that speaks. He engages with his creation and desires to do so. He does not hide nor is he passive. The God of the Bible is eternally connected to his creation because he loved it into creation and love is never lost in silence. Love demands expression. Love demands to be heard. In the same way that the deepest and most fulfilling human relationships are based off of positive and consistent communication, the relationship between God and his creation is no different. In our time of need and in times of desperation God is waiting for us to engage with him so he can engage with us. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Some might ask, “How can I hear him?” The Biblical response to this questions is, “What are you willing to give up in order to hear him?” One might say that the ability to hear the voice of the living God is free for all but it is not in its essence free. In order to hear the voice of God speaking truth and authority into our lives we must be willing to listen and therefore we must be willing to give him our undivided attention. Hearing costs. Hearing his voice does not come naturally to us. We must be facing him to see him speak. We must be listening intently in order to hear what he has to say. How can we hear God speak into your life if he is daily being drowned out by your voice or the voices of others instead? He is your God. He is your creator. He is your father. He knows. Why would a person be willing to sell his/her soul to have the world? Why would you be willing to walk nervously along the road of self-doubt/self-discovery when the God of creation is eagerly waiting to speak unshakable truth and life into his/her life? This rationale is not rational but it is natural for sinners like us. The living God is waiting at the door to speak to you! Sell everything to hear his voice. He is reaching out his hand to usher you into his presence where he will speak eternal truths into your life. Take his hand and hear his voice.