Mark 8:11-21 -- Hearing From God
I was recently asked a good question, but it was puzzling at the same time. Over the last number of years Diana and I have been asked this question countless times, and each time we leave the conversation amazed. The question nearly always comes from Christians, involved in their churches, usually they have been Christians for many years, they would consider themselves 'mature'.
The question, most recently, came from a successful, professional man, who is very involved in his church and community. He is on many boards, called upon to help make many, significant decisions. People look to him for input and guidance. He is a leader in his community
This is the question: "How do you hear from God?"
A great question, but disheartening because it is an honest question that is coming from a person who should know how to hear from God.
The disciples should be learning how to hear from God; the Pharisees should know how to hear from God.
I find most people regard circumstances as the greatest indicator of when, how and what God has spoken about; and while that is one component - His will does show up in our physical world as a way for us to know He is at work - circumstances are an insatiable and really have little to do with actually changing our thinking and attitudes about Him and our life (that is why we often do the same thing over and over but are expecting different results 'this time'). We try to 'read the signs' of circumstance and look for another 'sign' to build a trend to determine what God is saying. I find that is how many Christians determine if God has spoken.
In this passage of Mark 8:11-21, Jesus is responding to religious people, 'important' people, in regards to knowing "how God has spoken". They want ANOTHER miraculous sign; good grief He had just fed 4000 people, they must have missed that message, so they want ANOTHER one!?! Jesus is not going to play that game.
The disciples are once again concerned for their own logistical situation and to them, when Jesus says something to them, they think he is responding to their logistical concern about their next meal. Jesus and the disciples are on two completely different frequencies.
yeast - Pharisees - Herod; watch out!
5000 people, five loaves, 12 basketfulls;
4000 people, seven loaves, 7 basketfulls;
Don't you get it
logically - there is little to build a system on here for those who would want to 'run the numbers' - what is He trying to say?
Hearing from God has much more to do with our attitude about Him than the circumstance itself. Hearing from God has more to do with our response than it does the results. There are ways to hear from God, and circumstances are but one piece of the hearing process, as the disciples are beginning to learn how to hear from God.
The question, most recently, came from a successful, professional man, who is very involved in his church and community. He is on many boards, called upon to help make many, significant decisions. People look to him for input and guidance. He is a leader in his community
This is the question: "How do you hear from God?"
A great question, but disheartening because it is an honest question that is coming from a person who should know how to hear from God.
The disciples should be learning how to hear from God; the Pharisees should know how to hear from God.
I find most people regard circumstances as the greatest indicator of when, how and what God has spoken about; and while that is one component - His will does show up in our physical world as a way for us to know He is at work - circumstances are an insatiable and really have little to do with actually changing our thinking and attitudes about Him and our life (that is why we often do the same thing over and over but are expecting different results 'this time'). We try to 'read the signs' of circumstance and look for another 'sign' to build a trend to determine what God is saying. I find that is how many Christians determine if God has spoken.
In this passage of Mark 8:11-21, Jesus is responding to religious people, 'important' people, in regards to knowing "how God has spoken". They want ANOTHER miraculous sign; good grief He had just fed 4000 people, they must have missed that message, so they want ANOTHER one!?! Jesus is not going to play that game.
The disciples are once again concerned for their own logistical situation and to them, when Jesus says something to them, they think he is responding to their logistical concern about their next meal. Jesus and the disciples are on two completely different frequencies.
yeast - Pharisees - Herod; watch out!
5000 people, five loaves, 12 basketfulls;
4000 people, seven loaves, 7 basketfulls;
Don't you get it
logically - there is little to build a system on here for those who would want to 'run the numbers' - what is He trying to say?
Hearing from God has much more to do with our attitude about Him than the circumstance itself. Hearing from God has more to do with our response than it does the results. There are ways to hear from God, and circumstances are but one piece of the hearing process, as the disciples are beginning to learn how to hear from God.
Comments