Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

Some said it thundered

Sunday, March 29, 2009

John 12:23-32
Jesus said, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

"The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life ...

"I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name."

Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."

Do you hear what I hear? The Christmas song notwithstanding, God's message often comes out garbled as it comes through the north wind to the little lamb and the shepherd boy, to the mighty king and finally to people everywhere. As in a tortured game of Telephone, God's words seem to just get lost.

Jesus heard the words of his Father. And he wants us to hear them too. The prince of this world has been driven out. Hear the voice of the Lord. This is not thunder, nor even an angel. God has come to his earth and isn't leaving.

What do I hear instead? Well, to start with, I seem to hear the "prince of the earth" just fine. He hasn't been driven out, has he? He still whispers often enough in my ear, sowing seeds of doubt like he always has: "Did God really say he loves you no matter what?" "Did God really say to love your enemies?" "Did God really say he would never leave you?"

God seems to leave me alone with all these lies, unless I invite him in. If what Jesus says is true (and it is), then nothing Satan says amounts to a hill of beans anyway. God has won and therefore I am safe, saved and sanctified. Whether or not I believe it might affect my emotions and my thoughts but not my spirit.

Sometimes I don't invite God in, of course. I think my own thoughts, I make up my own explanations for what I can't explain, I suspend the rebirth of wonder for yet another day. There is no cause for this kind of selfishness, but I choose it anyway. And that doesn't really matter, either. My spirit is safe with Jesus.

Gradually this salvation is stretching itself into my mind and body. I am calmer and feel more free. I interrupt my self-talk more quickly and invite God's input. Dialogue with God often gives me a wonderful sense of his presence.

So ... the thunder resolves into words. Thundering armies, thundering crowds breathless in panic, thundering herds of hungry hostile creatures bent on survival ... thunder cracking the dark sky and thunder erupting from the earth all resolve into the words of God.

"I am glorified." And because this is true, all is right and all is calm this silent night. Son of God, love's pure light becomes my vision and my life.

Radiant beams from thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace, you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. You have cleansed me with hyssop, and I am clean. You have washed me, and I am whiter than snow.

Devotions Archive

Some said it thundered

Sunday, March 29, 2009