Listen For The Word…

TUES., JUNE 4, 1991, 6:22 AM
FARM, STUDY

There are two somewhat different ways in which a preacher may introduce his texts for the day, those more relevant to the upcoming sermon. One is: “Listen to the Word of God,” and the other is “Listen for the Word of God.”

The first implies that the passage to be read is quite clearly the Word of God, with no need for interpretations, for there is only one way to understand it. The second implies that the Word of the Lord may come forth from the passage, but that Word may be different for different hearers… and for you there may be no important Word at all. It also implies, in a wider way, that the Word of God may come to you at any time, and through means other than through Scripture.

Let’s consider a blatant example – Thou shalt not kill. Now this is a commandment, so it clearly is the Word of God. It could be interpreted in the strictest sense to mean that there should be no killing of any living thing by anyone. Humans could eat fruit and grains that were picked or plucked so that the plant would not die… and perhaps even animal flesh if the animal died or were killed in some natural way.

Obviously that is not the Word of the Lord. It must just apply to the killing of fellow humans. But then the question comes as to whether this means that you, personally, must not kill another or whether it means that you must oppose all killing, anywhere, but particularly in your own culture. You should be anti-abortion, anti-war, and anti-violent police action, as well as anti-murder. You might even be anti-automobile…and certainly anti-gun.

Now this isn’t practical, is it!? If there are those who do kill, there must be police who can protect themselves and others by killing. The earth is full of armaments, and if others have them… and the power arms represent… that you also must have a strong military, one that can kill enemies effectively. You see that does not make the passage, “Love your enemies and do good to them that hate you” very relevant as the Word of God.

In relation to abortion you have gotten My Word, other than through Scripture, that the immortal soul does not enter a fetus until just before… or even just after… birth. Thus, abortion simply removes a potential person, but it is not killing in the sense of a true, human person.

( 7:01 / 7:06 )

It is interesting when some hear that the Word of God means no abortion but does not mean massive aid to starving people nor an absolute opposition to the killing that a war produces.

It seems obvious that, with this passage, Christians are listening for the Word of God, even as some Christian know the interpretation and therefore can, with some comfort, listen to…

The Word says, “Love one another, for this is the greatest commandment.” Does this tell you, and all other Christians, exactly what to do? How is love manifested? The same act or action can be one of true love, partial love, or no love at all. With a passage such as this one, you must listen for the Word, letting Me help you understand what this should mean for you.

The Word says, “We all sin and fall short of the glory of God.” This suggests that you should see yourself perpetually as a sinner, one who continually displeases Me with your unworthy acts. An alternative is hear that “I have taken all your sins upon Me” and accept the grace that is freely given to those who accept My act, the manifestations of which are eternal. Another alternative is to hear both passages and feel like a yo-yo, eternally sinning and being forgiven, sinning and being forgiven, sinning and…