Focusing our gaze on God

This morning (21 March 2020), I read the day's reading. It reads: "The Lord says: I will give peace in your land, and you will sleep and no one will startle you." (Exodus 26:6). In the New Life Bible, the heading above the passage is "The Blessings for Obedience". This title inevitably reminded me of our theme for the year.

He who listens to God and courageously takes steps out of his comfort zone is obedient (Greek: hypakouo = listening upwards). Whoever is obedient will be blessed and be a blessing. If we hear God's words and also do them, i.e. listen upwards, we will experience peace, we can sleep without being startled. Sleeping peacefully is a synonym for a good conscience, for peace in the heart and for a trust that all will be well. Especially in the current extraordinary times, a peaceful and deep sleep cannot be taken for granted. When we turn on the TV, read the newspaper or meet someone (if allowed), it is all about one thing: the current pandemic. It can consistently happen that our hearts become burdened and anxious.

A change of strategy is needed: we should focus much less on the ongoing propaganda and turn our gaze to God. Listening up begins the circle of blessing, which also includes a peaceful sleep. I think that in the abundance of information, one really has to fight for it. On the other hand, thanks to the stopping of occasions, we have a little more time to turn our ear to God. Isaiah 50:4 says: "Morning after morning he opens my ear, that I may hear as a disciple hears." A disciple of Jesus responds to Jesus' invitation to follow him and now sets out to share all of life with him and become like him. It is certainly a good idea that we turn our ears to God in the morning - before all the flood of news overtakes us - and listen upwards.

Let us not be overwhelmed by the daily news, let us make space to listen to God. A person who hears the words of Jesus and acts on them is building on solid rock!