Thursday, February 16, 2012
Luke 9:35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."
WHEN JESUS SPEAKS, HIS DISCIPLES LISTEN
The Lord blessed the Twelve in a special way when He called them to be His disciples, and provided them the opportunity to walk with Him, converse with Him, and learn from Him in person for over three years. I suppose we might be tempted to say: "Wouldn't it be great to have that opportunity? How wonderful it would be if we could have Jesus visit our church and preach the Sunday sermon! If only I could sit in a Bible class like Mary of Bethany did when she sat at Jesus’ feet on the living room floor drinking in the words of eternal life that flowed from His lips!"
But wait! We don't have to wonder what it would be like to enjoy that blessing. Jesus has already given it to us! No, we won't be privileged to hear Him speak to us in person till He comes back. But whenever we crack open our Bibles and read the Spirit-inspired words written there, it's Jesus we're really listening to. When we congregate as a church family around His Word on Sunday morning, it's the Savior who meets us there (even if it would be a congregation of two or three!). When we come together around the supper table for a family devotion, it's Jesus' voice we are hearing. Through His Word of truth He has chosen to communicate all we need to know about Him, our Savior, His will for our lives as His redeemed people, and the bright future that awaits us in His heaven, until the Day we see Him face-to-face.
Giving attention to the blessed voice of Jesus. It's what the Father was urging us to do when He spoke from the cloud that day on the Transfiguration Mount: "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."
Speak, O Lord, Your servant listens, Let Your word to me come near;
Newborn life and spirit give me, Let each promise still my fear.
Death's dread power, its inward strife, Wars against Your Word of Life;
Fill me, Lord, with love's strong fervor That I cling to You forever!
(Lutheran Service Book, 589:1)
