God Speaks! We Are To Listen – And Obey!

Then a voice came from the cloud, saying "This is My Son, the Chosen One; listen to Him!”  Luke 9:35, HCSB

Peter had been taught well!  His Jewish upbringing comes to the forefront and his heart is divided as a result.  He wants to keep Moses, representing the Law; Elijah, representing the Prophets; and Jesus, representing the new revelation, all on the same level.  His response was, "Let us make three tabernacles"

It is of great significance that IMMEDIATELY following Peter’s statement, a cloud descended and "they became afraid as they entered the cloud."  This was far more serious than we might realize not being a part of this culture.  The entire future was bound up with the question of whether Jesus was final and whether supreme allegiance should be given to Him.  Who is the “final authority” and “who deserves our complete allegiance?”  We all have to answer these in the affirmative for Christ Jesus in order to become completely sold out to His LORDSHIP in every aspect of our lives!

Where there is division, there will always be clouds.  We have to admit, there are clouds over our churches.  We fear as we enter those clouds.  Why are we afraid?  The answer is simple - division.  Ephesians 4 encourages each of us, as members of the church to do all we can to preserve the unity of the body.  John 15 vividly details the importance and the imperativeness of our ABIDING in Christ! 

In the midst of this cloud – and I contend countless others - comes a Voice.  God speaks!  The Voice is one of evaluation and invitation.  God said, "This is my Son, the Chosen One; listen to Him!"  (Luke 9:35).  The clouds will never lift and the fears will never depart until we LISTEN to Christ.  John 17 details what He is saying, "May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You"  (John 17:21).  Christ must be first, and the unity of His Body must take priority over any other allegiances we might have.

It is my prayer that it will not be long before we who share Christ's Name truly become one.  For the church to more effectively achieve its purpose, we must abide in Him and become one as Christ prayed for us to become,