Would You Rather...?

Anyone who knows me knows that I love games. I have this game called “Would You Rather”. It's a game meant to inspire hilarious conversation. It asks some very thought provoking questions beginning with the phrase “would you rather”. A couple of examples just for fun:

“Would you rather age only from the neck up or age only from the neck down?”

“Would you rather have to spend an entire pro basketball game with your face sticking out of the rim or an entire hockey game with your face sticking out into the middle of the goal net?”

I’d have to choose neck down and basketball game. How about you?

Another question posed under the category which challenges a person’s ethics and intellect (and spirituality whether they admit it or not) reads, “Would you rather be someone who lives by what your newspaper horoscope tells you to do every day or what the person on the psychic hotline tells you daily?” The rules state that you cannot say “neither” or “both”. Both of the two evils offer a very bleak and misguided life, but if I had to choose between them, I suppose I would choose the cheaper of the two – newspaper horoscope. However, I am glad that I do not have to depend on such venues for daily living.

In my reading this week I was reminded that I serve a God who speaks and is willing and ready to give me the direction and insight that I need. To some, the practice of hearing God is questionable, but I believe it is entirely necessary and should be a very normal and constant Christian experience. The Bible is indeed the flawless word of God, but this is in no way a legitimate argument for a currently silent God; it is actually the greatest argument that he speaks because the bible bursts with accounts of God communicating to ordinary people and plenty of evidence that he still desires to make himself real to us by speaking.
Dr. Klaus Bockmuehl says, “Only the pagan idols are mute, and Christians have been liberated from their service. So we have no reason, unless we mean to defy the teaching of Jesus, to turn the Holy Spirit into another mute idol.”

“But our God is in heaven; he does whatever he pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands they have mouths, but do not speak…” Psalm 115 3-5

“See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks” Hebrews 12:25

“Therefore take heed how you listen…” Luke 8:18

“But the anointing that you have received from Him abides in you…the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true and is not a lie…” 1 John 2:27

“…his sheep follow him because they know his voice” John 10:4

Obviously, Scripture holds ultimate authority and the leadings of God’s Spirit are subjective and must be tested, but I believe by properly applying the two the voice of God can become ever increasingly recognizable. This is my desire- to grow in the skill of listening to God and to maintain the ability to hear by obeying.

So, would you rather ignore God and live as though he does not speak or live biblically and seek his input into your life daily? Remember "both" is not an option.