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 27:7-10 Lord, hear my voice when I call; be gracious to me and answer me.
8 My heart says this about you: “Seek his face.” Lord, I will seek your face.
9 Do not hide your face from me; do not turn your servant away in anger.
You have been my helper; do not leave me or abandon me,God of my salvation.
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord cares for me.
Read the Entire Psalm
The Lord Hears. The Lord Cares. It is not too hard for God to hear you and care for you. He created all things. He keeps all things together. He provides and he hears you and cares for you. Take a moment and be amazed that God is not too “busy” for you and your cares. He is truly wonderful.
SCRIPTURE READING:
John 12:44-50 – Christian Standard Bible
A Summary of Jesus’s Mission
44 Jesus cried out, “The one who believes in me believes not in me, but in him who sent me. 45 And the one who sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me would not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and doesn’t keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and doesn’t receive my sayings has this as his judge: The word I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a command to say everything I have said. 50 I know that his command is eternal life. So the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told me.”
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.
- Pray for college fall retreat at Webster Conference Center in Salina. Ask God to move and speak to college students as they gather this weekend.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
In Jesus, we are saved to walk in darkness no more. We must not allow our heart to grow cold or disillusioned with walking in the light. First, we remind ourselves about the truth of who we are in the gospel. We are children of the light, who have been washed, sanctified, justified in the name of Christ (1 Cor 6:11). Then, we must walk in the light. We have agency and responsibility as followers of Christ. How do we not grow disillusioned with the light? We walk in it. And as we walk in it, our heart is shaped to increasingly hate sin and love the things that please God. Walking in the light can be difficult, but do not believe the empty promises of the darkness. Keep walking in the freedom and blessing of the light. Do not give up.