“HEARING THE MASTER’S VOICE”

“HEARING THE MASTER’S VOICE”

Monday, February 7th, 2022

SCRIPTURE:

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. – Hebrews 12:11

THOUGHTS TO PONDER:

About a week ago, a friend of my daughter’s from school asked if we wanted a puppy that they had found in the Walmart parking lot. What’s a father to say to his little girl? To say the least, we have a new 8-week old little lab puppy mix. And for the last week, I have been invited, or should I say challenged to wake up to his whimpering and barking. I quickly take him out for potty, feed him breakfast, take him out again, play with him, take him out again, teach him his name, take him out again, walk him with our other dog, train him not to potty in the house, take him out again, feed him dinner, train him not to beg for table food, take him out again, train him not to eat or chew on anything that isn’t his food or toys, train him to come when I call him, and the list goes on. Every day for the last week, as his caretaker and master, I have been trying to teach this cute little puppy some simple things such as eating, sleeping, going potty, walking and running outside, playing with our other dog and each of us, etc.

For a puppy to learn these new behaviors, it takes an extreme amount of discipline, consistency, and perseverance. As his owner, caretaker, and master, our new puppy is slowly learning, comprehending, and growing. He is slowly learning his name. He is slowly learning not to have accidents in the house. He is slowly learning not to nip at each of us or our other dog. Slowly, and prayerfully surely, he will come to know and understand my voice. And of course, I have had to have an incredible amount of patience with him, as he is again, only 8 weeks old.

FOR REFLECTION:

Being the proud owner of a little puppy, I have been reminded of my own relationship with my “Master”, the Lord of my life. O how incredibly patient God is with us! Lord knows we have so many “accidents” of our own, if you will. We often fail to listen to His voice. We often fail to feast upon that which is nourishing to our body and soul. We often fail to rest, or get out and exercise, or play nicely with others. The list goes on… Hopefully you get my point.

Thankfully the Lord is ever so patient with us. His mercies are new every morning. Thankfully the Lord has provided us with a myriad of spiritual disciplines for us to further know Christ as we are fully known by Him. As in any relationship, it takes discipline and intentionality to get to know one another.

A book I have found myself referring to and reading snippets from time and time again is a book by Richard Foster entitled: Celebration of Discipline. This New Year, I have been preaching a sermon series on the spiritual disciplines. And each week as I have been preparing for each sermon, I am being reintroduced and encouraged to engage in such disciplines for my own spiritual transformation.

As each of us has been called by name, set apart by God, and entrusted to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with our congregations and communities, I can’t help but to ask these questions. As the Master continues to call us by name to follow Him, are we listening? Do we know the Master’s voice? Are we listening with intentionality, or are we easily distracted? What spiritual disciplines might the Lord be inviting you to engage in once again? O that we would hear the Master’s voice, and follow Him.

PRAYER:

Almighty God, thank You for being the Lord of my life, my Master, my Savior and Redeemer, my Protector and Provider. Forgive me for not being more intentional to listening for Your voice. Forgive me O God for failing to be more obedient to Your Word. Strengthen my relationship with You, and remind me of those spiritual disciplines where we connect the closest with one another. Thank You for Your Word and for Your unconditional love. I pray in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. – Amen.

RESOURCE:

Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard Foster