5.3.10_Psalm 46:10_Silence

 Praise the LORD!!!
 
     Today at church, and yes I know you're reading this tomorrow:))), we had a very interesting service. To be a fact, I've never been to one like it ever before. The whole service was done in silence! The use of flashcards, a monitor with text generated and then a section with typed in text were all used. They even had the worship leader come up and put on his guitar, step up to a mic and then produce not one single sound. You heard me right, not one word was spoken during the entire service, even for the one worship song that was added in to make the whole point more concrete.

  Psalm 46:10

   

    10 “Be still, and know that I am God;"


    We as Christians today, fill our lives to the brink with every form of activity possible. We have very little time within our busy schedules that isn't or doesn't have some sort of sound or activity induced into it. We've cell phones that are constantly ringing or vibrating with a call or a text message from someone. We've MP3 players with gigabytes worth of songs or sermons on them. We've DVD players with countless disk to accompany them. Satellite, cable or DSL connected TV's. Not to mention the internet and all it's means of captivating us. The point is, to make you aware of the fact, that somewhere in there is supposed to be made time for GOD. Plus if I've interrupted my reading of scripture rightly so, HE's supposed to take up the greatest portion of our time, not the least part of it!!!

   I would give scripture references for this fact, but they're so plentiful, it should be unneeded. GOD paid the price for all of our sins and has set aside but a few simple requirements to receive it. You can simply accept it a go with that, which is a base level redemption, having your sins forgiven and entry into heaven guaranteed. Now there will be those that are truly satisfied with just being allowed into heaven, but I personally would like to have so much more. I want to walk with JESUS and talk with HIM. I want to sit at the supper table of the LAMB and rejoice in all that HE has to offer. I want to be with HIM constantly for the rest of eternity to put it simply. To obtain this level of relationship, requires a good bit more or one's effort involved in the process. This is where the willingness to give one's life completely to JESUS comes into play. Not just a simple acceptance of  HIS works for you, but a complete emptying of oneself and wholeheartedly devoting yourself to living a life totally given in service and relationship with HIM. Where nothing else matters or is even considered important.

    This is not the ordinary Christian's life, for not all are made to be this way. There are those that are set aside from the foundations of creation to fill these positions and not all are called to this level of devotion. If we were the world would truly be a different place then it is now. The point of the matter is not in my being chosen or called, but the fact that I count my quite time as very valuable. For GOD speaks to us still by that "still quiet voice," one that is easily overcome by the drone of a noisy world, especially one where we've crammed every sort of entertainment imaginable into it. We couldn't hear GOD speaking to us, even if HE was screaming. Because we've placed so much into this area of our lives that it all is fighting for attention from us. I've seen people hear a phone ring and then go about searching for the one that's ringing, only to find out it's not even their own phone. But then going right back to the ipod, or whatever  and cranking it back up, to tune out the world. The big problem with all this though, is that of tuning out the world, we've also tuned out GOD and can't hear that which is truly the most important information worth paying attention to. GOD's voice and HIS instructions as to what HE would have you do in this life.

    Maybe it is about time, that we all took a step back and refocus our attentions on that which is truly important. Not all the sounds of this world, but that still quiet voice of a GOD, that wants so much to have a deep personal relationship with each and everyone of us. I know I am going to, what about you?



Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org

GOD bless and good day,

Rev. Marshall Barth

Vine of CHRIST Ministries

Vine Ministerial Network International