Daily Reading
Daily Thought
Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” ~Isaiah 1:4-5
There is no music so beautiful as the Word of God, and God plays through his prophets. Jeremiah was prepared before he was born to perform, but what is music if people will not listen?
L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station in Washington, D.C., a guy in jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt and a Washington Nationals baseball cap picks up a violin and plays. He leaves the violin case open on the ground in front of him. This isn’t just any guy, though. Joshua Bell is one of the finest classical musicians in the world. This isn’t just any violin, either. It has a name: Gibson ex Huberman; made by Antonio Stradivari in 1713. Bell paid $3.5 million for this violin. And it isn’t just any old music. The composers have names like Bach and Schubert. It is a 45-minute experiment to see if beauty will stop (or slow) the unending rush. Over 1,000 people pass; 7 stop to listen.
Declare this in the house of Jacob;
proclaim it in Judah:
“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people,
who have eyes, but see not,
who have ears, but hear not.” ~Jeremiah 5:20-21
Jeremiah is a faithful prophet, but God sends him to a nation that no longer recognizes God’s glory and now chases after that which has no value–“but my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit” (Jeremiah 2:11).
“The awkward times,” Bell recalled, “happen right after each piece ends. Nothing.” No one noticed him play, so no one noticed him stop. No applause, no acknowledgment.
For the hustle and bustle, they miss the music. We must stop and listen to the prophets so we will again hear God.
Daily Prayer
Righteous God, You still walk with us. In the Garden, in Eden, we were aware of You. We talked with You and loved Your company. Now, we act as if we are alone, as if You are not here, as if we are not accountable to our Creator. But You never left. You still make Yourself known to those whose spirit listens to Your Spirit.
God, I long to hear You, to listen to You, to walk with You. How wonderful when You say, “Well done.” When You say, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” Thank You, Father, for giving me a new heart, for awakening my spirit, for opening my ears to Your Word. It’s good to hear You again.
Amen
Daily Question
What distracts you most from hearing God’s Word?