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Refreshment in Refuge
by Gina Burgess
I love the story below. I have kept it for many years because it always reminds me that it is my responsibility to listen for God's voice. I don't know who wrote it, or even if it is true. But, the message is a good one.
Back when the telegraph was the was the fastest method of long-distance communication, a young man applied for a job as a Morse Code operator. Answering an ad in the newspaper, he went to the office address that was listed. When he arrived, he entered a large, busy office filled with noise and clatter, including the sound of the telegraph in the background. A sign on the receptionist's counter instructed job applicants to fill out a form and wait until they were summoned to enter the inner office.
The young man filled out his form and sat down with the seven other applicants in the waiting area. After a few minutes, the young man stood up, crossed the room to the door of the inner office, and walked right in. Naturally the other applicants perked up, wondering what was going on. They muttered among themselves that they hadn't heard any summons yet. They assumed that the young man who went into the office made a mistake and would be disqualified.
Within a few minutes, however, the employer escorted the young man out of the office and said to the other applicants, "Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming, but the job has just been filled."
The other applicants began grumbling to each other, and one spoke up saying, "Wait a minute, I don't understand. He was the last to come in, and we never even got a chance to be interviewed. Yet he got the job. That's not fair!"
The employer said, "I'm sorry, but all the time you've been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message in Morse Code: 'If you understand this message, then come right in. The
job is yours.' None of you heard it or understood it. This young man did. The job is his."
Right now God is sending you a message and the job is yours, the prize is yours, the blessing is yours... all you have to do is listen and heed His message. Is that hard? You betcha! The world and Satan are closing in around us. The city closes in and blocks out the sunset which is God's reminder that He is God. But Elijah found out His voice is not in the mighty wind, the fire or the earthquake.
1 Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake was a fire, but Jehovah was not in the fire; and after the fire came a still, small voice.
1 Kings 19:13 And it happened when Elijah heard, he wrapped his face in his robe and went out and stood at the cave opening; and, behold, a voice came to him, and it said, What are you doing here, Elijah?
O Lord, please let me hear Your voice over all the hustle and bustle of this world and my daily life. Manage my time and keep me smack in the middle of Your will, AMEN.
"I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly." (Psalm 85:8)
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Gina Burgess has taught Sunday School and Discipleship Training for almost three decades. (Don't tell her that makes her old.) She earned her Master's in Communication in 2013.
She is the author of several books including: When Christians Hurt Christians, The Crowns of the Believers and others available in online bookstores. She authors several columns, using her God-given talent to shine a light in a dark world. You can browse her blog at Refreshment In Refuge.
If you'd like to take a look at some Christian fiction and Christian non-fiction book reviews check out Gina's book reviews at Upon
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