How Do You Hear From God?

As the crowd swelled, he took a fresh tack: “The mood of this age is all wrong. Everybody’s looking for proof, but you’re looking for the wrong kind. All you’re looking for is something to titillate your curiosity, satisfy your lust for miracles. But the only proof you’re going to get is the Jonah-proof given to the Ninevites, which looks like no proof at all. What Jonah was to Nineveh, the Son of Man is to this age. On Judgment Day the Ninevites will stand up and give evidence that will condemn this generation, because when Jonah preached to them they changed their lives. A far greater preacher than Jonah is here, and you squabble about ‘proofs.’ On Judgment Day the Queen of Sheba will come forward and bring evidence that condemns this generation, because she traveled from a far corner of the earth to listen to wise Solomon. Wisdom far greater than Solomon’s is right in front of you, and you quibble over ‘evidence.’- Luke 11:29-32 The Message

The crowd wanted a sign from God (and let’s admit it, so do we!). We want easy answers, simple proofs. But that’s not what listening to God is all about.

Instead of easy ‘signs’, Jesus lifts up the Queen of Sheba as one who hears from God. That’s because she worked hard to get to Solomon - long days, tiring travel, much effort - because it seemed like God was speaking and she wanted to listen. Do we want to work that hard?

Instead of a booming voice from heaven, Jesus suggests that the Ninevites were the real sign - because they showed what true listening was all about. They changed their lives based on what God said. Too much ‘listening’ is really just gathering information. Jesus is a lot more interested in transformation than information.

The rest of this week, these devotions will be a practical guide for basic ways to hear from God. Let’s start by earnestly seeking God and telling God that we really truly do want to hear and respond to what he says.