The Geese Listen
We live by a lake in the northwEsther If we awoke from a twenty-year-long nap, like in the story of Rip Van Winkle, and we didn’t know what month it was, we could guess by looking at the lake. Different seasons bring us different wildlife, mostly waterfowl. Canada geese drop in to rest each spring and fall as they head north or south. They fill the skies, obeying God’s call to go where He has prepared a place. Later, white-backed mergansers come in their dozens and stay the winter, chasing fish and snails that multiplied all summer. Round black coots, painted wood ducks, and buffleheads all spend the late winter finding different food in and around the lake. In summer, they’re replaced by gangly cormorants and green-headed mallards with fluffy ducklings. Hummingbirds, swallows, and woodpeckers return too. Each is called here in their season to receive the bounty God provides. They hear, trust, and come. Listen is one of the most frequent commands in the Bible. In the NIV, the word “listen” appears more often than “trust,” “praise,” “obey,” and even “worship.” However, the word “love” exceeds them all. As you listen for God’s call, listen especially for love. God invites us to trust His love for each of us, which He perfectly expressed in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God the Father tells us to listen to Jesus, who is God the Son (Mark 9:7). And as we follow Jesus, our loving God helps us to love one another. As you spend time in God’s Word and listen to the gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12) that He speaks just to you, remember that the lake God has for you may be different from the one He has for your friends. Every year, I watch different geese fly past us for weeks. They don’t all stop by our lake because they each get a unique call. Similarly, all Christians are called by the same God, but our lives will not look the same. God has given us each unique paths. And, as we listen to Him, we can trust that the God who cares for the birds will also care for us. Rick Taylor How do we learn to listen to God? If we know Jesus, the Holy Spirit is in us, reminding us of everything Jesus has said and helping us discern God’s voice (John 14:26). We also need to talk to trusted Christians and help each other answer questions like: “Does this agree with the Bible?” “Does this glorify God the Father and God the Son(John 16:12-15)?” “Does this bring the fruit of the Spirit and hope (Galatians 5:22-23; John 10:10) or condemnation and fear (John 3:17; Romans 8:1)?” “Who are trusted Christian mentors or peers you could talk to about this?” All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time. Psalm 104:27 (NIV) Read Verses: 1Kgs:19:11-1Kgs:19:13; Matthew 6:26; Mark 9:7; Psalm 104:27
Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens
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Show Notes
We live by a lake in the northwEsther If we awoke from a twenty-year-long
nap, like in the story of Rip Van Winkle, and we didn’t know what month it
was, we could guess by looking at the lake. Different seasons bring us
different wildlife, mostly waterfowl. Canada geese drop in to rest each
spring and fall as they head north or south. They fill the skies, obeying
God’s call to go where He has prepared a place. Later, white-backed
mergansers come in their dozens and stay the winter, chasing fish and
snails that multiplied all summer. Round black coots, painted wood ducks,
and buffleheads all spend the late winter finding different food in and
around the lake. In summer, they’re replaced by gangly cormorants and
green-headed mallards with fluffy ducklings. Hummingbirds, swallows, and
woodpeckers return too. Each is called here in their season to receive the
bounty God provides. They hear, trust, and come. Listen is one of the
most frequent commands in the Bible. In the NIV, the word “listen” appears
more often than “trust,” “praise,” “obey,” and even “worship.” However, the
word “love” exceeds them all. As you listen for God’s call, listen
especially for love. God invites us to trust His love for each of us, which
He perfectly expressed in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God the Father
tells us to listen to Jesus, who is God the Son (Mark 9:7). And as we
follow Jesus, our loving God helps us to love one another. As you spend
time in God’s Word and listen to the gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12) that
He speaks just to you, remember that the lake God has for you may be
different from the one He has for your friends. Every year, I watch
different geese fly past us for weeks. They don’t all stop by our lake
because they each get a unique call. Similarly, all Christians are called
by the same God, but our lives will not look the same. God has given us
each unique paths. And, as we listen to Him, we can trust that the God who
cares for the birds will also care for us. Rick Taylor How do we learn
to listen to God? If we know Jesus, the Holy Spirit is in us, reminding us
of everything Jesus has said and helping us discern God’s voice (John
14:26). We also need to talk to trusted Christians and help each other
answer questions like: “Does this agree with the Bible?” “Does this glorify
God the Father and God the Son(John 16:12-15)?” “Does this bring the fruit
of the Spirit and hope (Galatians 5:22-23; John 10:10) or condemnation and
fear (John 3:17; Romans 8:1)?” “Who are trusted Christian mentors or peers
you could talk to about this?” All creatures look to you to give them their
food at the proper time. Psalm 104:27 (NIV)
Read Verses:
1Kgs:19:11-1Kgs:19:13; Matthew 6:26; Mark 9:7; Psalm 104:27