June 25
Isaiah 12:1-6, 17:1-14; 2 Chronicles 28:16-21; 2 Kings 16:10-18; 2 Chronicles 28:22-25; 2 Kings 18:1-8; 2 Chronicles 29:1-2; 2 Kings 15:30-31; 2 Kings 17:1-4; Hosea 1:1-2:13
Those of us in the Pro-Life community will rightly make the argument that with the millions of lives aborted, perhaps the individual with the cure for cancer was aborted, or the world leader who would truly make a difference never saw the light of day. Another reality must also be considered, with the increased level of noise and distraction, how many prophets simply couldn't hear the voice of God when He called them. For those that do hear God's voice, how many choose to safely keep those words to themselves for fear of what might happen in our politically correct society. The prophets in Scripture had the difficult job of delivering very unpopular messages to oftentimes hostile crowds in boldness. They simply spoke forth exactly what God told them to say. How many of us would think to ourselves that if the message sounded too harsh, perhaps we could alter a word here, paraphrase a portion there to soften the message. God's Word is as true now as it was then, but there are so few who are willing to step out of the crowd and deliver that message. These prophets, like us, wouldn't simply deliver a message then remove themselves in obscurity. They would deliver the message, then see those same people in the markets, in the social gatherings, at religious gatherings, etc. In Nazi Germany, most people of faith, remained silent to their own disgrace, allowing the atrocities to occur in their own country and before their very eyes. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, theologian, stood out openly against these atrocities and was eventually killed as a result. He was quoted as saying, "Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility." He also said, "One act of obedience is better than one hundred sermons."
We shouldn't miss the phrase in Hosea 1:2, "When the Lord began to speak by Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea:...". The Lord began to speak, and just as crucial, Hosea began to listen. Consider some of the things he was asked by God to reveal to his friends and family in Hosea 4:1-3, "Hear the word of the Lord, You children of Israel, For the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land. By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed. Therefore the land will mourn; And everyone who dwells there will waste away With the beasts of the field...". He didn't just call out the common people, but didn't hold back concerning the leaders in 4:5-6, "Therefore you shall stumble in the day; The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; And I will destroy your mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children." I imagine that these and comments like them would have made Hosea the most unpopular man in his community, but this didn't stop him.
Unless we have some quiet time with God, we will never hear from Him. Even good things can be a distraction. If every time we pray or read His Word, we immediately move onto the next part of our day without allowing some time for God to communicate with us, then our walk is more of a monologue than a dialogue. If every time we get in our car we immediately put on worship music, how can we hear from God over the words of the songs. Some of my best times on vacation is towards the end of the day as I quietly stroll the beach, without music, etc. and simply stay open to hear from God without distraction. It is these moments that I have often received direction for the One Year Bible Challenge. We have more college graduates, more PhD's, more MD's, etc than ever before. Daniel spoke of our times in Daniel 12:4, "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." Our knowledge about every trivial matter has greatly increased alongside with our increase in Biblical illiteracy. With end times approaching, where are our voices? Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." Rather than getting heated politically, or about social issues, may we who uphold God's Word stop holding back. May we take the unpopular position of speaking forth God's Word unashamedly and with boldness. The question really comes down to whether or not we are willing to hear from Him and whether or not we are willing to speak forth what He communicates to us.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: