Thought for Today
Genesis 16:13 So she named the LORD who spoke to her, "You are El-roi"; for she said, "Have I really seen God and remained alive after seeing him?"
Genesis 46:2 God spoke to Israel in visions of the night, and said, "Jacob, Jacob." And he said, "Here I am."
Hebrews 1:1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets,
2 Peter 1:21 . . . no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
“O God, help me distinguish what you are saying from what I only wish you would say. Amen.” (These Days, April 22, 2025)
Every time I say something like, “Well, God says . . .” I should probably pray that prayer from today’s devotional. Every time I hear someone else say something like, “Well, God says . . .” I wish they would pray that prayer from today’s devotional.
Has God ever spoken directly to you? Out loud? Does God really sound like George Burns as portrayed in that delightful movie of some years ago, Oh God? If God has spoken to you out loud, have you ever admitted it to anyone? Bragged about it? I cannot claim to have ever really, truly heard the voice of God speaking out in human language or terms (although I am sure that if I did, God would speak Texican).
One of the verses we read and discussed Sunday related the words of Mary Magdalene to the disciples, “John 20:18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her.” Is it possible that one of those disciples thought or even muttered out loud something about a hysterical woman letting her imagination run away with her?
In that John Denver movie where George Burns portrayed God, having God appear and speak to him directly caused comedic problems for John Denver’s character. Historically, people who have claimed to have heard or seen God have not fared too well. Even for those first disciples, questions must have been raised as they claimed to have seen Jesus raised from the dead. Then and now, public executions were and are public. Everybody knew that Jesus was dead and buried. There were even skeptics among the disciples. Thomas had to literally touch Jesus to believe.
Hearing someone claim to have seen or heard God or God’s Son immediately raises doubts about that person. Read in Acts about how those early Christians greeted Saul of Tarsus when he first claimed to have encountered the risen Jesus. I don’t know whether or not Hank Williams was thinking about Saul/Paul when he wrote I Saw The Light, but the lyrics seem appropriate: “I wondered so aimless, life filled with sin/I wouldn’t let my dear Savior in/Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night/Praise the Lord, I saw the light/ I saw the light, I saw the light/No more darkness, no more night/Now I’m so happy, no sorrow in sight/Praise the Lord, I saw the light.”
Paul was literally blinded by the light of the Risen Lord on that Road to Damascus. Paul spent the rest of his life sharing the good news of the gospel message. Given why Saul was on that road, why he was going to Damascus, it seems doubtful that anyone in Damascus initially believed him when he first announced, “I have seen the Lord.” Of course, they probably didn’t accuse Saul of only seeing or hearing what he wanted to see or hear.
How about you? Have you “seen the Lord?” Literally? I have seen the Lord in the world around me. I have seen the Lord in the lives of those I have encountered. As a young child, I saw the Lord in my parents, in my friends at church. As a Sunday School leader, I saw the Lord in all of those faithful children and adults eagerly learning about our faith. At one point in my adult life, I (figuratively) heard the Risen Lord call out my name. I answered, “Here I am, Lord.” Now, after seminary and ordination, I am blessed to share my own faith with my congregation and with all who read these Thoughts.
I still pray that prayer, “O God, help me distinguish what you are saying from what I only wish you would say. Amen.” I still echo Jesus’ own words from Gethsemane, “Luke 22:42 not my will but yours be done." How about you?
Stay safe, pray to hear what God is saying to you, trust God,
Pastor Ray