Hearing God

One of the world’s finest violinists performed Bach and Schubert in a subway, and over a thousand commuters hurried right on by. Some wore ear buds or chatted loudly into their cell phones while others were rushing too fast to pause for Joshua Bell’s unexpected treat. Many people did stop for lottery tickets, but even as they waited in line, no one turned around to enjoy the violinist who 3 days before had sold out an auditorium of $100 seats.

We can also be so immersed in the banal flurry of life that we fail to hear the music of God. “The heavens proclaim the glory of God,” wrote David. “The skies display His craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known” (Psalm 19:1-2). Every sunrise, cloud, and flower is a revelation from God. Do you hear it?

Psalm 104:1-35 recounts the many ways God sustains our lives. Your job, church, and faithful friends are God’s grace notes to you. Can you hear them?

Most important, John declares that Jesus is God’s light to the world—but “the world didn’t recognize Him.” It’s easy to doubt your beliefs when you’re surrounded by people who don’t hear and see Jesus as you do.

Only seven people stopped to listen during the 43 minutes that Joshua Bell performed. One of them sat by a shoeshine stand and looked around, bewildered at the other commuters scurrying past. When interviewed later, he said, “Other people just were not getting it. It just wasn’t registering. That was baffling to me.”

Few people notice that their lives are filled with the rhythm of God’s love. Put breaks in your day—come to a full stop—and listen.

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 19:1-27

Taken from “Our Daily Journey”