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October
My imagination was fired last night by a phrase in
one of Oswald Chamber's There are many who say that God is silent,
a remote Deity who is not concerned with the thoughts and actions
of mere individuals. I happen to believe that this is not the case,
and though I cannot begin to explain how He can be at one moment
listening to and acting upon the prayers and thought processes of
a whole universe; I just have to accept that it happens.
Here's a case in point. I recently wrote that I was starting to
look for a different image of God from that old gent with the beard
who lives somewhere up there in the clouds. I had started to develop
the image of God as an ocean surrounding us with an awesome power
yet supplying the needs of the smallest creatures that depend on
it; comforting, protecting - those were the initial thoughts that
were starting to form. I know that it's not a perfect image, but
then all human image of God are by their very nature imperfect,
but nevertheless I find it useful in my attempt to know Him better.
The very same evening I turned to the day's reading from Oswald
Chambers, and read these words (They're on June 8th of My Utmost
for His Highest)
“ If you yourself do not cut the lines that tie you to the
dock, God will have to use a storm to sever them and to send you
out to sea. Put everything in your life afloat upon God, going out
to sea on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and your eyes
will be opened. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all
your time in the calm waters just inside the harbor, full of joy,
but always tied to the dock. You have to get out past the harbor
into the great depths of God, and begin to know things for yourself—begin
to have spiritual discernment."
Now you could say that this is pure coincidence, but I would beg
to differ. I see this as God saying to me 'You're on the right lines,
John!' and I take it as a great encouragement to continue in my
spiritual journey of discovery - of knowing God in a deeper way
than I do at present. To get out past the harbor, as Chambers says,
and into the great depths of God.
God is never silent. He speaks to us through the circumstances of
life, through the beauty of a birdsong or flower, through the crashing
of waves upon rocks, through the gentle reassurance of a word in
season, a shoulder to cry on, a hand shaken in friendship, an unexpected
blessing and through that still small voice that is always there
if we have the ears to listen. He is not a silent God.
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