Logos (III) - My sheep hear my voice (6)

Both before and after we turn to Christ and become His sheep, it is possible to “hear” His Word (logos). In John 5:24 Jesus says “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word (logos) and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” If the unbeliever was never able to hear, then this verse would make no sense. It is the one who both hears the word (hears logos as an unbeliever still abiding in death) who then in faith turns to God, this is the one who passes from death to life. In fact God is speaking to all of us, all the time, to both the believer and the unbeliever.

First of all God speaks to us all through creation. “The heavens declare the glory of God….. there is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard (His voice speaking through the heavens)…. their words (logos in the LXX) to the end of the world” (Psalm 19:1, 3, 4). Now God has given us freewill, and we can (and do) choose how to respond to the logos that He is speaking here, and elsewhere. In particular we can harden our hearts, turning a deaf ear and refuse to hear. We do need to know that the Lord sees this as provocation and rebellion (Hebrews 3:8 NKJV respectively NIV). And as with a seared conscience, when we do this, His still small voice becomes smaller and smaller until we are unable to hear. But still, in the end we will be without excuse (Romans 1:20). Nevertheless “God whispers to us in our pleasure, but shouts to us in our pain” (C.S. Lewis)! It is not His desire that any of us should perish (2 Peter 3:9).

When we respond positively to His logos, be it His voice in creation or in His written Word (logos), then the logos becomes living and powerful and piercing (Hebrews 4:12). The verse goes on to tell us that this piercing exposes the thoughts and intents of the heart. In other words it cuts through our rationalization and uncovers the lies we tell ourselves. I know first hand that this can be a very painful process (see last day). I mean natural birth can be painful, so it should be no surprise that the new birth can be painful too. But also as with natural birth, the new birth is worth it, it really is!

Father, I want to pray this morning both for those of us that through Your patience and longsuffering brought us to Yourself, and also for those reading this who are not yet there. I pray Lord that You will continue the process of removing our hearts of stone and giving us a heart to serve You (Ezekiel 36:26). Thank You Lord that You do not force us, but rather You are patient and “longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 peter 3:9 again). I cannot live without You Lord in Jesus Name Amen