Chapter
4
Listening to your worldview
....what's your responsibility in relationship with God?
Okay, let's take a road trip. We start off from point A heading for destination B. See map above. ....Our GPS "talking map" helps us find the best route. We're moving right along, enjoying the journey. ....Then the "GPS voice" says "in 1 mile make a turn". ....But this time we just keep going straight ....past the correct turn. That's when the GPS voice says "turn around". But we keep going. .....So the GPS voice says something like "recalculating", and gives new directions to get us back on the correct route to destination B.
Now after we've missed several turns, or chose different turns, ....God asks "Where are you?" And we have no idea where we are. We left point A several hours ago, and now we just have to keep going, ....hoping destination B is out there ahead, somewhere. That's when we finally arrive at point C. Don't know how we got there, ....but we're there, ....somewhere. And it's not destination B.
.......Okay, you're already ahead of me on this road trip story. SMILE. ....So, let's discuss hearing "what" voice, knowing decisions we make on life's journey leads to arriving at some consequent destination. Some outcomes are big, some not. And maybe sometimes we get a "do-over", ....or maybe not.
As you may have guessed, the GPS voice represents God the Holy Spirit's voice, nudging our hearts about making right/good choices. ....What is not identified in the above story is our "inner worldview voice" that we listened to ....that chose to keep going, when we should have turned, ....or turned when we shouldn't have.
Our inner worldview voice....
Some call this "inner worldview voice" our "conscience". An online dictionary defines "conscience" as:
the inner sense of what is right or wrong in one's conduct or motives, impelling one toward what is believed to be right actions.
the mix of ethical and moral principles that controls or inhibits the actions or thoughts of an individual.
So, ....in our road trip analogy above, ....seems there's a conflict for "influence" going on between God the Holy Spirit's nudging (GPS voice) ....and our inner worldview voice (conscience). SMILE, ....sounds like life, doesn't it.
What's our responsibility in living with God?
Why should our "conscience" listen to — and not argue with — the Holy Spirit, when we "hear" His voice with suggestions for making good choices in life? What does that feel like, look like in our lives? Do we believe God the Holy Spirit knows best routes and choices for us to get from today's starting point A to eternal destination B?
Asking leads us to an important question....
How can we recognize the voice of God?
This question has been asked by countless people. Samuel heard the voice of God, but did not recognize it until he was instructed by Eli (1 Samuel 3:1–10). Gideon had a physical revelation from God, and he still doubted what he had heard to the point of asking for a sign, not once, but three times (Judges 6:17–22,36–40).
Okay, ....we understand both Samuel and Gideon's exceptional experiences hearing God's voice. But how do we make everyday choices? Whether big or small stuff? What do we do, ....when choices engage our worldview defining "who we are" and "WHOSE WE ARE?" ....What then?
First of all, ....to hear God’s voice we must belong to God. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). ....Those who can hear God’s voice belong to Him, ....saved by His grace through faith in Jesus, our Shepherd.
If we are to recognize God’s voice, we must belong to Him.
Belonging to God, we make THE choice to follow Him ALL DAY, ....EVERY DAY. And to follow Him, we must know what God is saying to us. SMILE, ....(you're ahead of me again) ....and to know what God is saying, we must be into the inspired Word of God. Reading it. Studying it. ....Living it! ....2 Peter 1:3,4,5-7,8-9 NLT
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right. Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work ....and make good decisions.
— 2 Timothy 3:16–17 NCV
When we have a question about a certain topic or decision in our lives, we should see what the Bible has to say about it. God will never lead us contrary to what He has taught in His Word (Psalm 25:5; 2 Timothy 2:19; Titus 1:2).
As Jesus' Disciples, ....as we live and remain in Jesus (John 15:4-5), we have the indwelling Holy Spirit teaching us and guiding our lives (John 14:26 and Galatians 5:16), helping us make life's choices (Colossians 3:10).
Basically, our conscience "knows" God's voice ....and follows the Holy Spirit, ....when we "Live God's Word Every Day"....
Okay, let's ask ourselves some questions
We have reached a junction on our road trip Quest to know God more. Seems we should be asking ourselves some serious questions like....
"What do I want in life?"
"How do I want to live it?"
And perhaps the biggest question of all is....
"Where do I want to spend the rest of Eternity?"
Let's start here....
What are our responsibilities in living with God? Do we even know what's expected, required? Do we take such responsibilities seriously? ....What are the consequences, if we dodge those responsibilities?
....and....
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How did we come to "believe" what we "know" about God? How do our choices in daily life experiences help confirm our worldview of God?
How are we being influenced by people around us? ....By peer pressure? ....Don't allow your worldview of God to be learned from hearsay evidence, filtered through someone else's worldview. Get your knowledge of God straight from Him. Read your Bible. Listen to the Holy Spirit. ....Talk with Jesus often!
....which leads us to.....
Having honest conversations with God
....is necessary to help understand why you make choices, ....know what you value. Such discussions makes it easier to achieve your life's goals. .......Certainly, helps get you from starting point A (TODAY) to desired outcome B (ETERNITY WITH GOD). ....So you won't wind up at someplace else C (ETERNITY WITHOUT GOD). ....And we know it's ONLY WITH GOD'S HELP that we can build a Biblical worldview!
Do you have direct, personal conversations with God to LEARN FROM HIM what you BELIEVE ABOUT HIM?
My heart has heard you say, “Where are you? Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”
— Psalm 27:8 NLT with Genesis 3:9 NLT
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As we read our Bibles and pray ....talking with Jesus, ....we learn directly from Him. That's necessary, but only part of how we "receive and consider" information from the world around us. ....There are a lot of other "information sources" continually trying to influence "What?" and "How?" we think, ....sometimes without our even realizing it.
Okay, so when we receive information to think about and process, ....we must consider whether or not it is true. As discussed beginning of chapter 3....
There are a lot of voices in life wanting our attention — some good, some not so good. YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT IS TRUTH AND WHAT IS NOT. Because "what" you believe influences the choices you make in life.
Let's talk about this in the next chapter....
* Credits: road map image from alphacoders / road trip drawing by my granddaughter, Elizabeth/ Jesus photo from The Chosen / some thoughts on recognizing the voice of God from GotQuestions
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