Hearing God’s Voice from His Word
James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Take a moment and turn your attention to God. Tell God that you desire to trust and obey Him. Ask God to speak to you from His word.
Psalm of the Day
Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need.
2 He lets me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.
Give thanks to God that he would be willing to shepherd you. Isaiah 53 says that we all like sheep have gone astray. God would be justified in letting us wander. In his goodness and faithful love, he commits to be a shepherd. Give thanks to the good shepherd Jesus for bringing you into his fold and for keeping you.
Scripture Reading
John 12:44-50 – New International Version
44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”ou may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Express thanks to God.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sin to you.
- Confess your sin to Him and receive forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.”) - Bring your personal requests to God.
(Psalm 62:8 “Pour out your heart before God”) - Pray for someone in your small group.
- Join with others from River and pray for Cameron. Pray for God’s guidance and encouragement as he serve overseas.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
Jesus said in vs 45, “whoever sees me see him who sent me.” Elsewhere in the Bible, we read that God is spirit or invisible. Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:14). He is the image of the invisible God (Col 1:15). He is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s nature (Heb 1:3). So, clearly the Bible affirms Jesus is God. As C.S. Lewis has observed, Jesus didn’t leave us the option of thinking of him merely as a “good moral teacher.” He was either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord. In what ways do you need to surrender to his lordship today?