Close Enough to Hear His Voice

I often have people tell me that God doesn't speak to them like He does me. The Lord doesn't play favorites so there must be a reason why some live a life of incredible intimacy with God and others feel far from Him.

Let's look at the people of Israel for a moment. I'm sure just like most Christians, they desired to walk with God as Moses did. Why would God speak to him and not to them? So, imagine the excitement they felt when Moses began to tell them about all the wonderful things God said He wanted to do for them! They all agreed that whatever He required they would do!

Moses proceeded to inform them that God had invited them to come closer... they could stand at the foot of the mountain, watch as he would enter the cloud of His glory and they could hear the voice of the Lord as He spoke to him. What an amazing invitation! The preparation process began as they sanctified themselves because sin would prevent them from drawing close enough...

As they stood at the foot of Mount Sinai... they realized... this wasn't all about the blessing... there was smoke, fire and an earthquake! There was intense and incredible power being manifested and it was fearful! Then they hear the Lord begin to present the 10 commandments to Moses... there were expectations of holiness, purity, and total surrender from life as they knew it!

As Moses returned from this incredible, transformative experience, he finds that they had backed away. They proceeded to tell him they'd prefer to hear a regurgitated word through him, rather than pay the price to get close enough to God to establish the type of relationship he had.

They missed out on the greatest opportunity of their lives! Though they wanted the blessing that comes from His glory, it just wasn't worth the price! So today, you have a choice to make. Live miserably as a lukewarm Christian, dissatisfied and stressed out, or decide once and for all that you will do whatever it takes to take your relationship to the next level. Just as it took total trust and surrender for Moses to enter the thick darkness of the glory of God... repent, lay down whatever it is you're holding on to and commit to seek Him with fervor! Nothing else is more important or rewarding! You must get close enough to clearly hear His voice! Read Exodus 19-20 Exodus 20:18-21 (KJV) And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. Revelations 3:15-17 (KJV) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.