God Speaks Through What He Has Spoken
Recently I was reading a book by John Stott called "Between Two Worlds" which is Stott's classic book on preaching. Yet in the early pages of the book, I was struck by one of Stott's phrases that doesn't just apply to preaching, but to Bible reading and Bible study in general. Stott makes the pronouncement that God has spoken through his Word, which is absolutely true, but just as importantly, God continues to speak through what he has spoken. When the writer of Hebrews says that God's Word is 'living and active' what the writer is saying is that God has spoken and is continuing to speak, yet sadly, people harden their hearts to God's Word and don't heed his voice (Heb 4:7). It is an ongoing problem for humanity.
But another spiritual problem relates to not rebellion, but neglect. Some of us don't hear from God and our spiritual lives are stale and boring, not from rebellion, but neglect of God's voice. If we are engaged in God's Word, there should be a sense that we are hearing from God, that God speaks to us in fresh ways and we are increasingly convicted, encouraged, challenged, humbled and comforted by the reality of his love. Spiritual boredom is found for lack of reading. John Wesley gently rebuked a pastor under his charge for neglect of consistent Bible reading. Wesley stated "what is exceedingly hurting you in past time and I fear to this day is [lack] of [Bible] reading. I scarce ever knew a preacher who read so little and perhaps by neglecting it have lost a taste for it. Hence your talent in preaching does not increase. It is just the same as it was seven years ago. It is lively, but not deep, there is little variety; there is no compass of thought. Reading can only supply this, with mediation and prayer...O begin! Fix some part of every day for private exercise....Whether you like it or not, read and pray daily. It is for your life; there is no other way; else you will be trifler all your days and a pretty superficial preacher. Do justice to your own soul, give it time and means to grow. Do not starve yourself any longer. Take up your cross and be a Christian altogether. Then will all the children of God rejoice (not grieve) over you."
Probably one of the great blessings of the Christian life is to hear a fresh word from God. That is God's part as he speaks. Yet our part is a consistent exposure to his Word that we may hear from him afresh in an unhurried, undistracted fashion. Might God's people be like Samuel, who said to God, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
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