Still small voice

While he is caring for these people, Jesus’ “friends” appear. With embarrassment in their faces, they attempted to “lay hold on him” to stop the crowds and shake Jesus back to reality, for they said, “He is beside Himself. Later in verses 31-32 we learn that these close friends are his mother and brethren. They “seek” for Jesus but because they are not doing the will of His father, Jesus disregards them as family.

The very woman that gave birth to the Son of God and experienced an angel speaking to her through the Lord was embarrassed when she saw Jesus helping and teaching crowds. She went as far as using force to stop him.

Hold that thought …

In Mark chapter 9, Peter experiences the transfiguration. He witnesses the Lord Jesus Christ shining in all his glory before his eyes. In the chapter before, Peter is the one who declares Jesus as “The Christ”.

Yet the same man denied the Lord Jesus three times and swore he didn’t know him! (Luke 22:54-62)

Sadly, I can see myself in both examples … someone who has spiritual highs but then fails not long after. I find myself relying on big spiritual moments to sustain me. Mary, in Mark chapter 2 had forgotten the virgin birth and Peter in Luke 22 had forgotten the transfiguration.

I love the lesson God teaches Elijah in relation to this.

In 1 Kings 18, we have the familiar story of God showing his mighty power by using Elijah. Fire was sent from heaven and consumed the burnt offering, proving to the Baal worshipers that there was no other God but Elijah’s God. We would think that after this miraculous event Elijah would feel invincible, he could never fail, he could never doubt such an amazing God. However, in chapter 19, Elijah falls into depression, loses faith and becomes isolated. Elijah had forgotten God's prevailing power.

But God was about to teach him an important lesson that we all need to learn.

“And he said, go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” (1 Kings 19:11-12)

God was showing through these winds, earthquakes and fires that while they were amazing it is only the still small voice of God that truly speaks to man. Miracles and spectacular moments in our Christian journey are amazing but if we don't cultivate a close, quiet, personal walk with God, we will soon be isolated, or fall.

Nothing in our lives can ever trump the satisfaction and stability of living day-by-day in communion with the still small voice of God.