I Samuel 3:1-20, Revelation 5:1-10 and John 1:43-51

There are certainly a lot of voices in public life these days. Of course, we are always being addressed in some form or fashion: “Come here!” “Stop that!” “Help me please!” “Huddle up!” “Watch out!” “Love you.” “Do this!”

And if not being spoken to directly, we can’t but overhear what others are saying. Reading and hearing the scriptures for today, we overhear Samuel and Eli and God in communication with each other. Jesus and Nathaniel and Phillip. Then an angel in Revelation! What will each of us hear for ourselves as we overhear these exchanges?

At the very least, a call to follow and to do are before us. These are divine calls above and beyond much else that is Babel today. Current voices that are important to listen to but are not ultimately to guide us to what is Ultimate. And what is Ultimate and Eternal should take priority at the end of the day’s voices. This is humbling and asks a certain humility and patience from us. We don’t know how much attention to give to social, political, and earthly voices when God has a Word for us that is above our words. Yet, we live in this imperfect world, not some unrealistic Utopia. Here is where we live out our three score and ten.

That is our task……discernment. Wisdom. Asking, seeking, knocking. Then choosing to follow Someone who is the Way, the Truth, the Life. No one said it was easy. But together we learn best. “Come see,” says Phillip to Nathaniel. We all might do well to be both Nathaniel the questioner, the seeker and Phillip the follower in listening and conversing with the Lord.

Other voices in our current state of the world then will be given their rightful temporary place in our living out lives to the fullest and with the most responsibility!

Hello? Let’s listen.

Blessings in the time ahead!
†

Pastor Barry