Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Spring Rains

Job said something interesting concerning his position as a spiritual leader, “Men listened to me expectantly, waiting in silence for my counsel. 22 After I had spoken, they spoke no more; my words fell gently on their ears. 23 They waited for me as for showers and drank in my words as the spring rain” (Job 29:21-23).

Wow! Sounds a lot like the old E.F. Hutton commercials … “When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen.” Well, no offense to Edward Francis Hutton, but I’m betting that what Job had to say about God was more important than what Mr. Hutton had to say about stocks and bonds.

Wouldn’t it be great if people today listened to Jesus like that? But not too many want to wait on anything anymore … even Jesus. Waiting in silence for Jesus to speak? After He speaks, not arguing with Him? His words falling gently on our ears, rather than being an annoyance to our lifestyles? Wanting to hear what Jesus has to say? Drinking it all in like the spring rains? If we would do that, perhaps we would see the same growth that the spring rains produce.

Yet so many will not listen. So many are convinced that they know all they need to know about God and His Christ. “These people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away. 24 They do not say to themselves, 'Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.' 25 Your wrongdoings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good” (Jeremiah 5:23-25). I NEVER want my sins to deprive me of the wonderful blessings God has prepared for me.

Lord, I am ready to listen! I want Your word to feed me and lead me. I know Your Son is coming back again someday … and I want to be ready. I want to be like a wise man ... listening to His word, acting upon it, established permanently on a solid foundation. Like the ground drinks in the spring rains, I am ready to drink in Your word and Your will. I will not argue. I will listen. May Your words fall gently upon my ears.

“Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth” (Hosea 6:3).