Are You Listening for His Voice?

“Follow me,”
Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.
Mark 2:13-14

Jesus gave a word of instruction and Levi followed in obedience.

Every mother would love that kind of obedience from her child.  Imagine:

• Take out the trash….and Sam got up and took out the trash!
• Load the dishwasher…..and Summer got up and loaded the dishwasher!
• Pick up your toys….and Kenzie picked up her toys!

We have experienced those moments as mothers…and certainly we rejoice in them.

But what about when we are on the receiving end of the instruction?  What about when God is giving us a command?  Do we obey immediately?  Do we recognize our Father’s voice?

Take note that it is the voice of Jesus Levi is responding to.  It is not the voice of Peter, Andrew, James, or John.  It is not the voice of a priest in the temple.  It is Jesus.

We are barely into chapter two of the gospel of Mark and already we see Jesus had different assignments for different people.  So far in our study, He has called four (and now five when we add Levi) to be disciples.  But He gave a different assignment to those he healed.  He told the leper to go to the priest. He told the paralytic to go home.

The call from Jesus to your friend will not be the same call He has for your life.  My call is different from your call.  Each of us must hear the voice of Jesus– to know what assignment He has for each of us individually.  If you don’t know, then ask!

We also need to let go of either:

1. Trying to entice someone else to join in our call.  Don’t try to drown out the voice of Jesus in your friend’s ear by raising your voice! It’s great that you are excited about your call…just don’t always expect everyone else to be excited about the same call.
2. Stop being jealous of someone else’s call.  Have you ever whined, “Jesus, why didn’t you give ME that pretty singing voice and make music ministry my call?”

We must walk in thankfulness for our own assignment…and be sure we are listening to Jesus for what that that assignment is.  When we hear Him, we need to follow in immediate obedience – just like Levi.

Even Jesus Himself acknowledged in John 4:34, “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me…”

If Jesus Himself only did the will of the Father…then certainly that should be the primary focus for our lives, as well.

When an idea pops into my head, I’m trying to train myself to ask Jesus:

1. Is this something you want done?
2. It is something you want me to do?

Then, if I’m certain, get up and GO!

All too often, I believe I have done things I WANT to do (or maybe things I feel guilty if I don’t do)– albeit good, kingdom things – but not things that were on His assignment list for me.

What is the will of Jesus for your life?  What assignment is He giving to you?  Are you listening to HIS voice above all others?

On-the-Go Truth:  The Woman of God follows immediately when she hears Jesus!

Are you listening?  What do you need to turn off so you can hear Jesus?  What mute button needs to be pressed so you can listen to the voice of your Savior?

We know the joy it brings to our mothers’ hearts when our children hear our instruction and obey immediately…so can you imagine the great joy it must bring our heavenly father when we listen…and follow in immediate obedience to HIS voice?

{ If you are studying through Mark with us, please read Mark 2:13 — 3:6 this week.  Here is the recorded teaching lecture on this passage:  http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/2013/09/26/ladies-bible-study-mark-213-36-laura-macfarlan-9-26-13/ }