Can you hear?

John 6:64-66 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” 66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

This was part of a devotional I read this morning, “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers. Today was about how Jesus living inside of us as the basis of how we face the trials of life; how the trials of life are faced through him. Os even goes as far as labeling them His trials. Are we honoring Him in and through them, or are we taking the side of the world to deal with or escape from them? Self-reflection is critical to spiritual growth, and many times a painful process when we grasp a level of sin, or pride in how we handle these circumstances that God ordains for each of our lives. We many times tend to put way too much “me” in them, and neglect “Him” in the every day situations we face.

When we look at the passage above from a standpoint of self, we can see pride woven into it. Why can’t I argue them to Jesus? Why can’t I be so great in my faith that everyone wants to be la Christian? Why can’t everyone see what I see? The passion for the lost that you feel as a child of God is woven into the sovereignty and elect of God. The big theological doctrines such as elect are not excuses to remain silent about your faith; that is Satan at work in a huge way inside of you. You are to be bold and share with all that will hear; it is not your decision who will hear and who will be deaf to God’s voice inside of you. John 8:47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” You will know when God has prepared hearts that stand before you; you will see and feel it in their spirit. That is the soil that God has prepared for you to plant His seed. The rest is up to Him and those that follow watering the seed you have planted. John 4:37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. You are not responsible for the lives of others. You cannot bear the weight of their lives and their sin; Christ did that for all that will receive him. All you must do is to proclaim Christ, and the rest is up to God. He knows their path just as he knows yours. Be bold today. Proclaim your faith today to all that will hear. Do not worry about those that will not, but invest in that one that listens.