The voice of the Lord.

I am an avid journalist. I fill at least 4 journals each year. I’ve learned to do this over the years because it’s been my experience that if I don’t write it down, I’ll forget it. One of the ways that the Lord speaks to me regularly is through my journaling. So the other day I was sitting at my desk, thanking Him for this great privilege of hearing His voice. I love hearing His voice. He never ceases to amaze me with who He is and how His thoughts are so different from mine! His response to my thanks however surprised me. He told me that hearing His voice is not a privilege, it is a necessity. He told me that if it were a privilege it would be a special right or advantage, and it is that to the world, but I am not of this world. Without His voice, I can do nothing except what I accomplish in my own strength and wisdom. He then warned me. He told me that many of His children have turned it into a privilege for a select few, but that the danger with this is that it leads to idolatry. If we believe that He only speaks to a few select people, then those few people become special and are given honor they do not deserve. He speaks to anyone who will listen. Why? Because we are all brothers and sisters and no one is above another. We are all priests before Him. There is no priestly ruling class. Israel fell into this trap when they desired a king, like the nations around them. God was their King, but they wanted to be like the world. The church has become like the world in this respect, because they have set up leaders, a few select people who are exalted, and the rest are just subjects. But we are all subjects in His kingdom. His example of leadership is very different from the world’s. Leaders are to lay down their lives for the sheep and to protect their sheep. Leaders are not to lord it over them and pretend they are special and different. That is pride at work. If He had set up leaders according to the world’s model, He would have called the priests and scribes to follow Him. But He did not. He called simple fishermen and tax collectors. He called men who had hearts for Him, not for themselves. It will be the same for this coming harvest. He will not call those who have been unfaithful and have collected men for their own kingdoms. He will call those, who like the fishermen, have been faithful to Him for no other reason than that they love Him. He will be calling those who love Him, because they are known by Him. (1 Cor 8:3)