Please
bear in mind that we are here discussing communication between UNequals! Much
of modern communication is between (roughly) equals, so we mustn’t in our
thinking compare communication methods too exactly.
Her
Majesty the late Queen never phoned me for a chat! [This will come as a great
surprise to you all]
Had
she done so, I imagine that I would rapidly have become nervous, tongue-tied,
and pretty scared of saying the wrong thing. Afterwards, I would have had considerable
difficulty of not boasting about it. How much more special would be any
communication with a Supreme God.
·
Through
creation … I once visited Muir Woods in California; watching families arrive,
park their cars and enter the woods; it was amazing that just a few yards in,
the children ceased their noise and fell silent in awe of the magnificent
redwoods there. You see a similar effect in the great cathedrals. So as we look
at nature, through our eyes, through a telescope or microscope, or through the
wonderful TV programmes, we marvel at the intricacy and beauty of the world
around us. Creation itself, we read, is sufficient to prove the existence of
God [Romans 1,20].
·
Through
History … a significant part of the Old Testament relates the history of the
Jewish people. Many skip these bits! Yet in the large perspective of “overview”
they show how God chose, and many times rescued, and many times helped, that
people. Sometimes he gave them setbacks, such as the exile to Babylon [Daniel 1
mentions this – notice how it is God who caused the exile] but always bringing
them back eventually. History reveals God’s dealings with His people, and thus
His characteristics – truth, faithfulness, etc.
·
Through
the experiences of other people … both Old and New Testaments are full of the
countless experiences of individuals meeting God, either in person or in vision
or in prayer; it tells how the experience changed them, or prompted them to
lead others or do service. I’ll perhaps list here some examples of these
encounters, later.
·
Through
Scripture … though here I have to acknowledge that some read scripture to find
fault with it (hunting the nits to pick!); reading Scripture to learn about God
is a safe way to go. Do not however stray beyond the Bible … there was a reason
why works such as the gospel of Thomas were not included!
·
Through
prayer … Prayer is not “mindfulness” or even “meditation”, but communicating
with God directly. It is not about reciting set words, or throwing a shopping
lists of wants at Him, but of spending time learning about Him, His ways, His
views. Even if all you can pray is “God, if you’re there, please let me know”,
that is an excellent way to start a prayer conversation. Remember, prayer is
2-way … say your bit, then stop and listen.
·
Through
the words of other believers … these may be simply an encouragement, but they
may be words of wisdom that will help you, or they may be prophetic (a message
from God to you, spoken through someone else). As always, choose your
counsellors wisely!
·
More
to come …
·
Prayer
(see above)
·
Our
thinking … God has the advantage that He knows our desires and needs without us
saying a word; but as always, that is 2-edged … He knows our good desires, but
also the dark or selfish ones! Our life and our thoughts are like an “open
book” to Him.
·
Our
love and service … He sees the love (for Him) in our hearts, and the things we
do for others in His service, and those things speak loudly to Him.
More
(to follow)
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