City Life Starter

Written by Paul Lane

The Word

“I will stand on my guard post and station myself on the rampart; and I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me, and how I may reply when I am reproved.

Then the Lord answered and said, ‘Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, that the one who reads it may run.  For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail.  Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.’”

Habakkuk 2:1-3

“For it is time for judgement to begin with the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

1 Peter 4:17

Exegesis

It is Saturday morning and I wanted to “record the vision” before I break my fast.  While I will not be able to tell you that a black or white car will be pulling into your driveway next Thursday morning to bring you news of good or ill, I think I can tell you something useful for the future.

In my fast, the main element was to turn off all media.  No news. No audio books or podcast. No TV.  No entertainment.  I was seeking a quiet place, not so much to think, but to listen.  I wanted to hear what God was saying, of course, but I also wanted to hear what was there.  Reality hit in a strong way when I found myself on the side of the road with a flat tire, literally!  And the spare tire was flat too.  God will do anything to get a moment with us.

OK, I will just listen to what God has to say.

As I progressed through the week, the echoes of books, songs, news reports, and conversations start to fade.  If we are to be vestals, we must empty ourselves to be filled anew.  As those echoes died down, a new sound came up.  “Habakkuk.”

I remember first learning the story in college.  A student ministry put together a play based on “The Billy Goats Gruff” to tell Habakkuk’s story.  It was somewhat entertaining, but I did not really understand the story, but the narrator helped explain it.  You see, Habakkuk was complaining to God about the injustice around him.  So, God answered, but God’s answer was not what Habakkuk had in mind.  God raised an army of wicked people to bring judgement onto His own righteous people.

Last night my wife and I had to attend judgement on homework and missing assignments (I am looking for the frustration emoji.) Frustration is a feature of parenting, not a bug.  After much protest and sidestepping, a plan was put together and soon after schoolwork was being performed.  Pray for the child who has no one that gets frustrated over their lack of schoolwork.

Application

Find a quiet place this week and let the echoes of the day die out.  Listen for God’s voice and write down what he says.  Be it short, or be it long, record the vision.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I thank you that you speak to us with wisdom.  I pray for your help to quiet the noise around us, so that we can hear your voice clearly and act upon it.  I know that it is your desire for our good and not my harm, for our victory and not our defeat.  Show us Your will Lord, that we might do it completely.  Amen.