Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
Isaiah 30:21, “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”
The effectiveness of environmental discipline in our lives is evidenced by the fact that we eventually do hear a voice behind us saying, “This is the way, walk in it.”
This voice keeps us on the straight and narrow way of experiencing Christ.
Our tendency is to be side-tracked, turning aside either to the right or to the left.
The right and left represent evil, the flesh, the world, or our own independent way (cf. Prov. 4:23-27).
If we have learned from our teachers of adversity and affliction, when we are again tempted to turn off the road to the right or left, we will hear the Lord speaking through our consciousness, “This is the way (Christ), walk in it (Him)” (cf. Col. 2:6).
All of God’s discipline in our lives has this one goal–that we would hear the Lord’s voice and follow Him.
In the New Testament, Revelation 3:19-20 reveals this same principle of discipline used by God to secure our inner attention to hear His voice.
The Lord says, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
The Lord gives a little rebuking and a little discipline to turn up the volume of His voice.
He has already been speaking in us, even standing at the door and knocking; but we have not heard His voice.
Now He knocks a little harder through rebuke and discipline.
When He says, “If anyone hears My voice,” He is saying, “I spoke to you in a whisper, in a still small voice, but you closed your ears to Me by your reasoning mind.
Your own self-centered desires deafened and muffled My voice.
But now, through discipline, I have secured My goal in your life.
You hear My voice and are opening the door, and I am coming into your heart to set up an inner table where we can feast together–you with Me and I with you.”
Until Tomorrow
With A Shepherd’s Love,
Pastor Jackson
FRIDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Ethel Proudfit – Funeral at 2 PM on Saturday at Scott Ward
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Ashton Bateman – Recovering
Sandra Graham – Home
Dan Haines
Doris Loyd
Linda Alexander
June Cronan
Jillian Gray
Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad
Brandon’s Dad
Darlene Thaxton
David Harrison
Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother
Dr. Don Davis
Easton Fielder
Erik Magusson
Freddie May’s Mom
George & Linda Alexander
James Burnette
Jim Mabe
June Cronan’s Sister
John Austin
John McClain
Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Michael Stanley
Mike Ferus
Ricky Gipson – Ashley’s Brother
Rose Fuller
Scott Nix
Terrell Loyd
Tom Witcher
James Garner’s Friend
Kim McClain’s Mother
Lonzo Christin
Ashely Burn’s Sisters
Coly/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Larry Barker
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Mary Sims
Marynell Ford
Pastor & Mrs. Driskell
Ricky Stubbs
Roseleigh Osborn
Scott Lanier
Sheila Simmon’s Cousin