Listening When We Don't Want To

Mike and Robbie boarded the light rail on their way to a Seattle Mariners game. A few feet from their seats sat a dirty, smelly man suffering from an addiction, mental health challenge, or both. Mike was repulsed and cautious toward this man conversing with an imaginary person. Mike noted, “He rearranged his clothing and belongings continuously and removed and replaced a fake mustache.” Mike prayed that he would not attack them or be a problem.  The Holy Spirit had another plan.  He whispered in Mike’s ear that this was a man with a name, a man loved by Him, and that Mike should approach and talk to him.  But that was not something Mike wanted to do, and for most of the train ride, he resisted listening to persistent promptings.

The scene of Christ embracing a leper in The Chosen series came to Mike’s mind. “How could I ignore him?”  Five minutes before disembarking the train, Mike approached the man and asked him his name.  He replied, “Israel," and then gave a lengthy explanation about the history and meaning of his name. Mike asked how he was. He said he had a broken foot. Mike replied that he couldn't fix that. “Would some money help?”  Israel said, “You must be a Christian.”  Mike responded, “Yes.” Israel stated, “I'm not, but I'd like to be. Would you invite me to church?”  Again Mike said “Yes” and told Israel where his church was and that if he could get there, he would love to sit with him. Then he ended the conversation by praying for Israel.

Meditation
Matthew 25:37-40--Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?’ “And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ 
 
The rational mind is not often in agreement with the mind of God. Our instinct is for preservation when God calls us to die to ourselves.  Our common sense resists His radical wisdom. We value safety, security, privacy, peace and tout avoidance as a valid precaution and measure while forgetting that our lives were bought by a Savior who abjured all those things to rescue us from our filthy condition. Listening to the Holy Spirit when because of our insecurity, we don’t want to keep us from experiencing God’s amazing handiwork.  That’s why Mike’s yielding is such a great example for all of us. How profound that the stranger was named Israel, and the blessing was seeing him through God’s eyes.  Something to think about . . . in reveration!
 
Inspiration
“Listening requires us to die to ourselves and our agendas”.—Doug Pollock in God Space
 
©2023 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you want to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)