How many Bible studies do you need to attend to understand God’s command for you? We don’t have a problem with knowledge, we have a problem with obedience. He needs more followers that will obey His command. God doesn’t need more followers that say the right words in a Bible study, quietly sing songs at worship on Sunday morning, and know the genealogy of Jesus by heart. I often think… What if He asks me to do something I don’t want to do?

Or are you like me and often tune Him out preferring instead to work, listen to music and podcasts, read books, watch TV, and join zoom meetings to distract you from ever really hearing Him. “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love Him- these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 Do you listen to His quiet, but powerful voice? Instead of ignoring His call I was obedient and formed a friendship with my neighbor. It wasn’t obvious at the time, but the Holy Spirit encouraged me to turn left instead of right because He knew my neighbor was lonely and needed someone to comfort him. But I also said yes to the Holy Spirit and His task for me. I said yes to keeping my neighbor company and to driving him to the hospital. He was scheduled to go to the hospital for a procedure and needed a ride. He said he wasn’t sure if anyone would have noticed him missing for a few days. My neighbor told me he recently had a heart attack and woke up on the floor. It was clear that he was lonely and needed comfort.

It wasn’t clear at first why I needed to head in this direction, but when I approached my neighbor’s house from the sidewalk his door opened and he came out onto his porch and wanted to chat.

I made a left at the corner instead of a right and walked towards a neighbor’s house. This day I felt the Spirit’s prodding and listened. Most days I wouldn’t have noticed this encouragement and if I did I would have ignored it, but this day was different. My ears were attuned to listening to the Spirit’s call for me and I felt a divine encouragement to take a different route than typical. My neighborhood Bible study was studying a book about the Spirit written by Francis Chan titled, Forgotten God. I walked out my front door and onto the screened in porch, put on my shoes, and headed out on my daily afternoon walk.

Francis chan the book of james