Starting with the devotional on Monday, June 17th, you might have noticed something a bit different. I’ve started to do something intentional that the Lord laid on my heart.
Writing the devotionals is a difficult task for me because I’m not a creative individual and I’ve never thought of myself as particularly interesting. And I don’t presume to pass myself off as a writer. I’m pretty sure no publisher would want to go out on that limb to publish my musings and if they did, it’s doubtful there would be a second edition. But I keep writing because I learn something along the way and the research is enjoyable.
Each devotional starts with a story. It might be a National Day Calendar event, something that happened in history, a news item, or just something bizarre that has caught my attention. Those stories are used as a segue to present a Biblical truth or a challenge. Winding the devotional down to a concluding thought is also a bit of a struggle sometimes. And every lesson from English class comes rushing back to my brain. I can still hear Mary Jean “Mad Dog” Mason saying, “So what?!?” Hopefully, I answer her question and adequately conclude the devotionals.
Now, this is where the Lord tapped me on the shoulder the other day. Excuse me, but don’t you think I should have the last word and the final say? The Lord is right. I’m writing these devotions for Him and about Him, His Word, and His truth. The spiritual application is always at the end of the devotional, but I was trying to find a creative way to end it.
Well, that has changed. Even though Scripture is used in the devotional, I want the final sentence(s) to be the Lord’s words. So, for a week, I’ve concluded each devotional with a Scripture so that God is having the final say and the last word.
This was a lesson Job learned. After all that had happened to him and the pseudo-counsel he got from his friends, Job was constantly defending himself, declaring his innocence, and pleading his case. Finally, God had heard enough.
“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, (2) Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?” (Job 38:1-2) For all of Job 38-39, God speaks and Job listens. Then, we read these words in Job 40:1-5, “Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said, (2) Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. (3) Then Job answered the LORD, and said, (4) Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. (5) Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.”
Like Job, perhaps we need to lay our hand over our mouths and just listen to what God has to say. As we head to church today, God wants to speak to us. He is going to use the Sunday School teacher and the preacher to bring a message. What will we do with it? Will we listen?
Think about these words spoken at the transfiguration, “Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. (5) While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” (Matthew 17:4-5)
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