I’m in love with Jesus. I sin….I fall short….I get frustrated….and I hurt people….and I am reminded of all my faults when God uses Scripture to teach me. And as a result, even more, I am reminded that in spite of all my shortcomings…. Jesus died for me…. rose for me…. and chooses to speak to me still.
Maybe you had heard of a lady named Joy from the television talk show, “The View”, criticizing Mike Pence for saying that Jesus talks to him. She said that she understands if the Vice President were to talk to Jesus, but saying that Jesus talks to him is like a mental illness. I found it so bizarre that someone would find it insane that God would speak to His creation since I have been exposed to Jesus basically my whole life, and if I just open up the bible, Jesus speaks. But Tony reminded me to see it from the eyes of an unbeliever who has never experienced a relationship with Jesus before and the power of His Word. Of course that would be weird to them.
I do find her words harsh, but God told us people would act and speak like this. I was reminded today of 2nd Timothy Chapter 3 where Paul is talking about the “last days” (the days towards the end where Jesus will return, the days we currently find ourselves). He describes the people:
“For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.” (2nd Timothy 3:2-5)
“although they have denied its power”….
By the grace and mercy of God, I have been given a great love for His Word and its power right now more than ever before. I wanna know it, study it, memorize it, and use it. I have seen and felt the healing, beautiful, calming power of His Word. There is absolutely nothing….NOTHING….that brings me more joy, excitement, exhilaration than when scripture jumps off the page and into my life….just like that verse was meant for me at the exact perfect time (because it was!). How GREAT is our God!
“although they have denied its power”….
That verse….keeps ringing over and over in my head. I want to scream “People! You have no idea what you are missing…confess your sins, believe in Jesus and live for Him….You will experience true love, faith, and power like never before.” If you have never experienced God speaking, I wish we were across the table sipping on some coffee right now. Let me tell you the times his Word has been like salve for my wounds, water for my dry thirst, and medicine for all my aches and pains. Let’s chat about the times it has been a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105). And let me tell you about the power, pure power, of reciting it in the face of darkness which flees at the sound of it.
Don’t be like Joy from “The View” and call us Christians crazy for hearing Jesus speak. Instead, investigate. Ask God to speak to you and open up a Bible. I beg of you not to deny its power and if you don’t, I know your life will be transformed. Life is too short, and the time for Jesus coming back is drawing near…. so don’t wait!
“ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost….He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly’. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
Revelation 22:17 &20