Attention!

This morning I was interested 
in God's ways of Getting the Attention 
of His people..... 

- Prophets spoke to them 
- Troubles to cause them to look to Him 
- Plagues and death to remind them there are consequences to their actions 
- finally He exiled them....     
removed them from the Land He gave them..... 
and took them to a place where 
No one spoke their language.... ref Jer 5:15   

Escalating 'attention getting'....   

I understand that.   

But
the strange thing
is Paul uses that example
of 'attention getting'
- People speaking a different language -
to describe what the Spiritual Gift of Tongues does for
those who don't believe in God

He calls it a 'sign for unbelievers' ref 1Cor 14:21-23
Something from 'another world'
Something 'un-natural'

And believers have been fighting about, divided on
and just plain weirded out about this sign
for centuries....
Many have asked,
"Why does God do this"?
and I think I understand a bit better this morning....

To get my attention.
He is God
I am not

Follow
Listen
Trust
Obey....
maybe not in that order either.... :)

Lord,
Your ways
Your gifts
Your Spirit
Strange and otherworldly
awkward for me
even kinda weird....

Yet, when I am in
that slightly 'off balance' place
You have my full attention.

Thank You Lord
For Your Gifts
for Your Presence.
for Your Goodness
to me

PJ