The Great Communicator
When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
~ John 10:4
“Well, if that’s true about me, You will have to show me.” (with attitude)
Oh, yes, that is what I said to God. I was on my way out of church after I had heard some preacher say I was just as sinful as everyone else in the world. I thought He was dead wrong.
Later that week I was alone in a pool, swimming laps and patting myself on the back for some wonderful thing I thought I had done for someone who was in emotional anguish. I crowned those pats on the back with thoughts of how ungrateful he had been for my “selfless service.”Immediately, my compassion for the man’s pain returned and I saw the selfishness I was displaying in those thoughts. I was convicted. God had shown me my sin. The greater conviction though, was that the God I had sarcastically challenged to show me the truth about myself, had just done so.
God was there. He had heard my sarcastic prayer. It was clear to me that He had very personally answered it.
The Light went on. He had not publicly humiliated me. He had quietly shown me, in the depth of my own pride, just how sinful I could be. He was answering my prayer and I knew it. It was just Him and me in that pool.
For the first time in my life, I knew He was real and He had spoken directly to me.
That clarity, that “Aha” moment, was the beginning of a wonderful relationship. Graciously, God continued to point out the depth of my own depravity and took my pride down, one point at a time. (This is an ongoing process that I fear I will fight to my grave).
That day, there was clarity for me about God. He made two things very clear to me. He hears our prayers, and He is an amazing communicator. He speaks in many ways and we hear Him because He knows how to reach us with His truth, His grace, and His love for us (John 10:4).
It was a while before I understood that I did not have to live in guilt, working my way to heaven. Slowly, God communicated the Truth of His forgiveness through faith in Christ’s sacrifice for my sin.
He clearly told me the wages of sin is death. Then He clarified that Christ had paid that debt for me.
What a great Communicator! What a great Savior!
I love serving Jesus Christ as one who “feeds His sheep”. It is my desire to teach God’s Word diligently, with reverence and awe for the Source of the truths I teach, and with an engaging, and sometimes witty, delivery so that the hearers will not just listen but do what it says.
- For Our Good - February 12, 2020
- Future Benefits - January 8, 2020
- Attention Getting Behavior - October 16, 2019
Years ago I had a friend say she would ask God to “gently” remove her pride. It sounds like that’s what He did for you. 🙂
“The Light went on. He had not publicly humiliated me. He had quietly shown me, in the depth of my own pride, just how sinful I could be.” I’ve had this experience too and I am very grateful that he is gracious to convict me personally instead of publicly!!!
Aren’t we so grateful for a God who loves us enough to show us our sin while not shaming or blaming?! He just puts it out there, and agrees with us when we come to Him in confession. Beautiful words, Beth!