“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”
John 5:24
How many times has someone said, “Oh, I believe in God! I pray to him every day!” Until this moment I never thought to ask, “Oh, Do you listen too?”
Prayer is a good thing. It demonstrates our dependence on the Lord. It truly is an act of faith. But there has to be more involved than our lips. Both our mind and heart need to be engaged as well. It was not meant to be a monologue. Meaningful prayer is a dialogue, the act of relating to God, communing with him. It must therefore involve active listening as well as speaking.
Paul commended the men of Athens for being religious yet challenging their worship of an unknown god. (Acts 17:23) Do we pray to the God we know? Or one we hope to know?
There is a difference between being religious and being relational. The Apostle Paul called it legalistic righteousness. As a trained Pharisee he knew the history of Israel and the Law very well. And he was very adept at keeping the letter of the law. He was very religious. Praying, fasting, and even tithing were disciplines of his daily life. All were good things to do in and of themselves, but for the wrong reason. As Acts 9 reveals, he knew not the Lord until his experience on the road to Damascus.
Till that moment he lived religiously to keep the letter of the Law. When he met Jesus, he became his servant. Paul heard the voice of the Lord and received his calling as an Apostle. He immediately began speaking boldly, proving Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. (Acts 9:20-22)
Paul’s life changed when he heard from the Lord. Hearing from God does not necessarily mean we will hear an audible voice. However, obedience to the Word of God is an indication we are hearing it.
“Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22
“If anyone loves me he will do what I command.” John 14:23
“You are my friends if you do what I command.” John 15:14
“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3
To know Christ, is to know life…Bro. Sherman
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