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 25:4-5 Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; I wait for you all day long.
Read the Entire Psalm
God is worth waiting on. He is a capable teacher. He is a wise guide. He is God, your source of life. Pray these verses back to God. Ask Him to teach you and guide you. Proclaim Him as the God of your salvation.
SCRIPTURE READING:
John 12:44-50 – New Living Translation
44 Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. 45 For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. 47 I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. 48 But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. 49 I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Express thanksgiving 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 those who do not know God. Ask God to help you see the lost people around you and have compassion for them. Ask God for opportunities to build trust. Ask God to give you opportunities to have gospel conversations.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
When Jesus says he did not come to judge the world but to save it, he did not mean that there would never be a time of judgement. Jesus speaks of an end time judgment on the last day (vs 48). Does thinking about God’s judgement bother you? It is important to understand God’s righteous judgement in light of his nature––in light of God’s holiness, goodness, and love. Nobody wants to live in a world where there is no judgement. If there is no judgement, then there is no such thing as justice. Importantly, when we think about God’s judgement, we should bewail our own sins and thank God for his grace and mercy toward us.