Today's readings are Joshua 24.1-31 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Josh.+24.1-31 ), Acts 13.1-12 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Acts+13.1-12 ) and Judges 1.1-36 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Judges+1.1-36 ).
How does the Lord communicate with his people? We see three different readings today, all of which deal with God and people communicating with each other. Many times today we are apprehensive about people's experiential statements about communication with the Lord. Yet we need to confess that God does communicate with his people. His final word, so to speak, is the living Word of God, Jesus. Yet even after the resurrection, while the New Testament was being written, prophets received messages from God, people knew where to go and what to do, in short, they did receive communication from God. And we still have no problem with the idea of praying that the Lord will guide us in what we should do. Though some take it to extremes (Lord, should I put milk on my cereal this morning?), nobody would deny that we should address serious life events with prayerful discernment. And we don't pray with the expectation that God will not communicate with us. That would be tantamount to idolatry. Rather, we pray with the expectation that God can and will make our path clear, give us assurance, help us find the right job, or better yet will show us the employer who really needs to be served and blessed by us.
But how does this happen? We understand that the Lord has spoken in his written word, that he communicates with us through circumstances, and that he will act in our lives in accordance with the graces and gifts he has given us. That's about the extent of what I can say. But we need to be ready for God to work in us. He is the living God. He is the God who communicates with us. If it appears that God is silent we should expect that it is actually we who are not listening.
Grace to you, and may the Lord bless you with peace, not silence.
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