When God Speaks

So I’m somewhat of a newbie when it comes to reading the Bible.  I’ve believed in God all my life and begun to go deeper only in the last few years. I know a big part of getting closer to God is to dive into His word, but when you’re a thirty-something newborn, how does one do that?

I sometimes feel like I’m just learning to read. The letters are swimming on the page and I just can’t make sense of it. I sound out each word carefully both in my head and aloud, but it just doesn’t sink in and the comprehension is not there. When I listen to the word during a weekend service, it’s like listening to the Good Book on tape – with bonus features. I love that our pastors explain their viewpoints of the scriptures and the truths in the scriptures, but I yearn for the day that I can pass my comprehension test on my own.

I admit that I’ve often looked at passages nestled nicely in morning devotions with various apps, or the verses of the day on the daily bible app. But I haven’t closed my eyes and trusted the Lord to speak to me the words He planned for me.

So today I decided to open my bible…app…and give it a try.

I closed my eyes and let the Lord speak.

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

I know this one. Love one another. Simple. It’s one of the commandments bestowed upon us by Jesus. But this verse doesn’t just tell us to simply love. It goes deeper. “Love covers a multitude of sins,” and we are all sinners. Jesus is calling us to call upon His power, because God is love, and Jesus’ death covers all of our sins.

Jesus is within us all, and we continue to shine His light as we love each other. Believe in this light, believe in the power that Jesus has in this light, and His power shall put out the darkness of sin.

I got this one, maybe still scratching the surface, but I love this passage so far, so I move on to the next couple of lines…

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful steward of God’s grace in its various forms.

This is where God hammers it home. “Offer hospitality to one another…without grumbling.” Without grumbling. Okay, God. This is the part where I wait patiently for the situation to arise when I will need to put this into practice. Without grumbling. And then, knowing me, the moment I let it drop of my radar, I will grumble. And then I will remember. Lol. At this point I will offer a pre-emptive Forgive me Lord, for I know I’ll sin. (But don’t worry, I’ll try really hard not to.)

So here I am, using the gift I have received, here to serve you and steward God’s grace, because I know that someday, I may come across a situation where I may not want to love the other. I may not want to love deeply. And I may want to grumble. Aaaannnnd I’m suddenly feeling very unworthy here.

If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.

Wow. Pressure here. Keep reading, Jenn.

If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

And there it is.

“…the strength God provides…” 

Thank you, Lord! Because it is impossible for us to do any of this alone. Here I am thinking that I’m up against this mountain of a task, when God whispers to me – “I got this.” Sure, it may look like I’m doing all the work, but the truth of the matter is, it’s all God. I can not do any of this without Him.

So thank you, Jesus, for speaking these words to me tonight. Thank you for your mercy, your forgiveness, and for your faith in me.

To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4: 8-11.

So friends, keep the faith. If I can do it, so can you.

~Jenn