June 15th, 20

JUNE 15,  God Answers.  Are We Listening?

Today’s readings are I Kings 17 – 19 and Colossians 2. We are reading from the New Living Translation.

Our God answers. Are we listening? The contest was to see which God would answer with fire. We see the results. It was our God that answered with fire.

Baal, and all the gods of this world, don’t answer. All the rattle and hum, fits and fury, can’t conjure up the answers we need and long for – the answers our soul demands, for hope, life, and victory. The victory we need in this life is found only in our God. In and of myself, I don’t have an answer for the spiritual drought that exists in my soul or the evil of this world. Paul says,

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (Eph 6:12 NLT)

On top of Mount Carmel today, there is a monastery of the Carmelite order. They adhere to a vow of silence. There, on top of Mount Carmel, are monks who are silent. They’re silent because they recognize the truth that they don’t have the answer, and neither do we. God has the answer. He is the God who answers.

Our God answers but are we listening? Sometimes he answers with fire and sometimes it’s through a gentle whisper. But we’ve got to be listening. Sometimes we have to see through the storm and the fire and the earthquake. We have to keep listening and looking, until we hear his whisper. It’s there that we are assured that He is God and we are not. The victory that we need in this life can only be found in Him. It’s not going to be found in our own strength. That’s good news for us. That means that the pressure’s off. Ours is to rest, eat his food, hear his voice, and follow him. We don’t battle against flesh and blood enemies, but against spiritual enemies. We don’t have the strength but he does. We don’t have an answer, but he does. Are you listening to the answer he has for you?

Listen, because he is the God who answers.

You are loved!