Carol Purves

‘Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.’ Hebrew 3:7-8

I think that ‘if’ is a big word. When we do not listen, we will not hear Him. There are so many distractions, so many other voices. The people of Israel did not listen. Instead of their journey taking eleven days, it took forty years. That’s quite some delay.

‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’ 1 Corinthians 1:31

As this verse goes on to say, not many of us are wise, influential or of noble birth. God chose the foolish to shame the wise and the weak to shame the strong. I praise God, because I’m right in there.

The other day I blogged about God speaking through dreams. Recently our church was approached by a refugee who was asking to be baptised. This man had dreamed a dream and heard God speaking to him, instructing him to be baptised. I thank God that my church accepted this challenged.

There were no long weeks of teaching or instructing this man, just a hastily called baptism with 19 of our members able to be present. I thought so much Philip and the Ethiopian; he accepted Christ and was baptised in the nearest section of water.

One of our young people had been defending his faith in the place where he worked. He was receiving a lot of opposition until this refugee spoke and said ‘I’m a Christian and I want to be baptised.’

God knew that this young person went to a church which had a baptistery, that our leader would be willing and that the rest of the church would support the decision to baptise the man with little preparation. (Because of the short notice the water was rather cool, I understand)

‘Do everything without grumbling or argument, so that you may become blameless and pure.’ Philippians 2:14

This is something that the government could take on board. But don’t let us point the finger. When did we last moan about church, the neighbours, high prices? If we feel some thing are wrong there are steps we can take to improve them.

Grumbling, arguing, and gossiping is not the way to cope with things. We can pray, act if necessary and then leave it to God. He’s much better at these things than we are.

‘The goal of the Christian life is not to get us out of hell and into heaven, but to get God out of heaven and into us.’ Charles Price

‘Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.’ Hebrews 3:7

It’s not that God doesn’t speak today; it is that we don’t listen. Our stubborn ears are at fault. In the past He spoke to prophets, priests, angels and Moses. He still speaks today.

‘For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.’ Romans 7:15

I remember as a child I wrote these words in front of a small notebook (I liked notebooks even then.) My mother asked me if I knew what they meant. At that tender age I hardly understood, but as I’ve progressed in years, I understand more.

Paul always uses a lot of words, but quite plainly it can be described as ‘sin.’

‘Thanks be to God, who deliveries me through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ Romans 7:25

It seems to easy to say thank you but so difficult to deeply mean it. ‘Thanks be to God’ seems almost too casual. There is so, so much to thank God for – eternal life, comfort in this life, guidance, companionship, peace as the world does not give.

t can also be difficult to know how to show our thanks. We can obey him, learn more about Him, follow Him, love others, help others. Fortunately this is a life-long task.

‘In these last days He has spoken to us by His Son. Hebrews 1:2

Our faith is unique in that God speaks to us. It is not usually in an audible voice as it was in Biblical times. It is often through dreams, visions, nature (God said let their be light), the Bible, prayer, other believers.

Most importantly He has spoken by His Son. We are told ‘do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.’ There is no excuse not to listen.

‘Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge , will award to me on that day and not only to me but also to all who have longed for His appearing.’ 2 Timothy 4:8

I love the idea that ‘all who long for His appearing’ will receive this reward. I am not alone in this. Millions and millions round the world are included in His love. Knowing there is a ‘crown of righteousness’ awaiting should not stop me serving my Lord while I am here on earth.