Morning Devotionals

by Don Emmitte

 

April 21st, 2008

 

"The Sound of God's Voice (Part 3)"

O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you.  Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.  Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." (Isaiah 30:19-21 NIV).

The second principle is that God's voice is specific. Isaiah declares a word to the people of Israel in our reading today: "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.'"  The specificity of God's message relates closely to the clarity of His voice, and often the two characteristics are so intertwined they can't be separated. We may receive only one-step-at-a-time direction. But the guidance is still specific.

The last two years have been like that for me. My calling in the ministry has never been clearer to me. That has been a constant for over thirty years. I remember the first time I was faced with making that decision sitting in the office of my dear friend, and then pastor, H. Bailey Stone. After I had shared with him my “feeling” of the calling into ministry, he asked a simple question: “Can you do anything else?” I was taken aback! Of course, I could do many things. I had training in several areas and choices to do those things were also available. However, as he explained, the call of God would be unmistakable, like “a fire in my bones.” So it was!

The last two years haven't been about that calling, but what to do within the call. Slowly, I have seen an emerging sense of ministry to families that has now resulted in a strong sense of understanding that this is what I am to be doing now.

It certainly has not been easy. There have been times that I have wondered if God was truly in this ministry, why then was it so difficult? Those answers would come as I took the steps that were clear to take. As I turned “right or left” his voice could be clearly heard affirming that was the way! And, by the way, there have been some real surprises along the way! But, isn't that just like God? As you determine which way to walk, don't wait to start until you have the entire journey mapped before you. Take a step; he'll let you know if it is the right one!