March 12, 2018 /
Does Jesus Speak to Us?
Recently, Vice President Mike Pence went under fire being criticized and even accused of mental illness as commentated on the ABC’s show, “The View” for claiming that Jesus talks to him. The show hosts told viewers “Jesus tells Mike Pence things to say.” They went as far to say “it is one thing to talk to Jesus; it is another for Jesus to speak to us.”
Whether you are a regular viewer of this show or not, whether you support this show or not, the topic itself warrants pondering.
Well, let’s begin with some of what we do know about God. We have to understand he is a relational God and relationship starts with Him. God, in fact, has relationship with himself. The Christian faith believes there is One God with three persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. With three persons in one God we see a relationship within God. So, if He is relational with himself, wouldn’t he be relational with us? Yes! Genesis 1:26 documents a conversation:
“Then God said, Let us make mankind in OUR image, in OUR likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over the creatures that move along the ground.”
The three persons in God, otherwise known as the Holy Trinity, decided to make each of us in their image. So, if God made us in their likeness, we too are relational beings. We have been created to be in community with each other and with our God.
But, what does it take to make relationships grow and deepen?
Interestingly, God also thinks about us. And those thoughts are numerous! Since God created us, he does already know us intimately and desires us to want to know him the same way.
The author of Psalm 139 declares the intimacy God has with each one of us:
“My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in that secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them they would outnumber the grains of sand- when I awake, I am still with you.”
In order to understand each other we need to communicate. This happens verbally, with body language and in writing. Communication is the essence on how we connect. We don’t just know what thoughts someone has about us, there needs to be an expression of those thoughts. It is the same with God. The written word of God, the Bible, reveals who he is and who we are to him. He establishes commands and has given us a free will to choose to be in relationship with him.
Reading and studying scripture gives us insight into who God is and what he commands. There are life lessons, love lessons, challenges, friendship, servanthood, warmth, discipline, and love.
Sitting in prayer with God in silence allows your spirit to hear him. God does communicate with us, but does God speak to us? Hebrews 1:1-2 declares
“in the past God spoke to us through the prophets in various ways and many times, but in these last days he speaks to us through his Son…”
There is also reference in Hebrews chapter 3:
“Today if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion…”
“When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say”.
So if scripture clearly states that God speaks, and if the people during the time of Jesus were encouraged by Jesus to not worry about what to say when confronted, rather, to trust that the Holy Spirit would provide them with the right words, why would he not do this for us today? And why would he not do this for the Vice President of the United States?
You decide, but for me, I trust what Jesus teaches me and believe as the Holy Spirit says in Hebrews 3:7-8, “Today if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts…”
Tenderly in Jesus,
