April 10 ~ Exodus 20:18-20
When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear.
And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!”
“Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!”
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
“Will you talk to So-and-so about this for me?” Every one of us has uttered a form of this question at one point or another. Whether we are asking a sibling to talk to a parent for us… or we ask someone to put in a good word for us with a potential employer… or we want a friend to find out if that special someone really likes us…we don’t even realize how often we are asking someone else to intercede on our behalf – in a myriad of circumstances. Some requests are innocuous, as in “I’ll ask my husband what he thinks would be the best way for you to handle that repair job”… or “I’ll ask Mary who she recommends for washing machine repair.” Others represent our inability – for whatever reason – to step up and face the person directly, as in “Will you find out if Jim is still mad at me?” or “Will you talk to Sue for me and find out what the plan is, so that I don’t have to talk to her?”
In much the same way, many of us are unable – or unwilling – to speak directly to God. Like the Israelites, we are scared to death of what God might say to us… and we most certainly do not want to face Him in person! So we ask others to pray for us… we base our limited faith in God on the word of friends, acquaintances, and the occasional televangelist. We fail to develop a strong, well-rounded relationship with God… and our excuses run the gamut. “I’m not really that religious… I don’t know the Bible like others do… I prefer to experience God in nature… God doesn’t want to hear from me… I don’t know how to pray and/or talk to God – I wouldn’t know what to say… I’m not good enough for God… God is mad at me”…all of these – and countless more – are the excuses we offer.
The truth is that intercessory prayers have their place, but nobody can communicate with God on your behalf like you can. We will never be worthy… good enough… or “religious/spiritual” enough! Still, God wants to have a relationship with us. God is NOT mad at us… He loves us. Experiencing God in nature and a variety of other ways has its place… but fellowship with other believers, prayer, Bible study and worship all are important, too.
The bottom line is that we do not want to have a “second-hand relationship” with God. We need to communicate with Him directly, humbly, yet boldly. We need to come before Him with anything and everything… we need to hear from God in person! You might not always like what He has to say to in return… but remember, God doesn’t like everything we say and do –yet He loves and welcomes us. All you have to do is start the dialog… simply say, “LORD, I’m here… I need you…and I'm listening...” and He will answer.
What are your excuses? Isn’t it time you stopped having a “second-hand relationship” with God and got to know Him for yourself? Isn’t it time you heard His word for your life directly from Him instead of a third party? Don’t you think it’s time to build your own relationship with Him and cut out the middle-man? What are you waiting for… what is your excuse this time?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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