The Geese Listen

We live by a lake in the northwEsther If we awoke from a twenty-year-long

nap, like in the story of Rip Van Winkle, and we didn’t know what month it

was, we could guess by looking at the lake. Different seasons bring us

different wildlife, mostly waterfowl. Canada geese drop in to rest each

spring and fall as they head north or south. They fill the skies, obeying

God’s call to go where He has prepared a place. Later, white-backed

mergansers come in their dozens and stay the winter, chasing fish and

snails that multiplied all summer. Round black coots, painted wood ducks,

and buffleheads all spend the late winter finding different food in and

around the lake. In summer, they’re replaced by gangly cormorants and

green-headed mallards with fluffy ducklings. Hummingbirds, swallows, and

woodpeckers return too. Each is called here in their season to receive the

bounty God provides. They hear, trust, and come. Listen is one of the

most frequent commands in the Bible. In the NIV, the word “listen” appears

more often than “trust,” “praise,” “obey,” and even “worship.” However, the

word “love” exceeds them all. As you listen for God’s call, listen

especially for love. God invites us to trust His love for each of us, which

He perfectly expressed in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God the Father

tells us to listen to Jesus, who is God the Son (Mark 9:7). And as we

follow Jesus, our loving God helps us to love one another. As you spend

time in God’s Word and listen to the gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12) that

He speaks just to you, remember that the lake God has for you may be

different from the one He has for your friends. Every year, I watch

different geese fly past us for weeks. They don’t all stop by our lake

because they each get a unique call. Similarly, all Christians are called

by the same God, but our lives will not look the same. God has given us

each unique paths. And, as we listen to Him, we can trust that the God who

cares for the birds will also care for us. Rick Taylor How do we learn

to listen to God? If we know Jesus, the Holy Spirit is in us, reminding us

of everything Jesus has said and helping us discern God’s voice (John

14:26). We also need to talk to trusted Christians and help each other

answer questions like: “Does this agree with the Bible?” “Does this glorify

God the Father and God the Son(John 16:12-15)?” “Does this bring the fruit

of the Spirit and hope (Galatians 5:22-23; John 10:10) or condemnation and

fear (John 3:17; Romans 8:1)?” “Who are trusted Christian mentors or peers

you could talk to about this?” All creatures look to you to give them their

food at the proper time. Psalm 104:27 (NIV)

Read Verses:

1Kgs:19:11-1Kgs:19:13; Matthew 6:26; Mark 9:7; Psalm 104:27