Listen, Speak, Act...Become!

“Those who make them are like them;
So is everyone who trusts in them.”
— Psalm 115:8

How do you see God? The one thing I know for certain, however you imagine God, in the words of J. B. Phillips, “Your God is too small!” No one can ever fully grasp His greatness.

Unfortunately, many of us are more comfortable with a small God. We like Him to be well defined, distant, safe and predictable. We will deny this, but our actions speak volumes.

We don’t expect to hear from God, we would rather listen to the preacher. We don’t expect Him to act in our lives, we are the only hands and feet He has, right? We don’t expect Him to speak through us, we just try to speak nicely on His behalf. We want to manage our walk with Him so it is safe, predictable, explainable, practical and fits our schedule.

Many of us, at least at times, have turned God into an idol. Few themes are dealt with more than idolatry in the Bible. David writes in Psalm 115:4-7, “Their idols are silver and gold. / The work of men’s hands. / They have mouths, but they do not speak; / Eyes they have, but they do not see; / They have ears, but they do not hear; / Noses they have, but do not smell; / They have hands, but they do not handle; / Feet they have, but they do not walk;…”

Tell me, is this not how we often imagine God? That He no longer listens, speaks, acts or walks among us? I fear it is all to often the case. There are countless stories of how we are the only hands God has on earth. How God needs us to complete His work. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Psalm 115:3 begins by stating, “But our God is in heaven; / He does whatever He pleases.” This is echoed throughout the Bible. God does not need us to do anything. As Acts 17:25, when Paul is confronting the Athenians about their idols, says, “Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.”

It is easier… no, it is safer to see God as a distant force separated from us who just provides moral direction. Yet, this creates an image of God created by man and disconnected from truth; an idol.

The result of seeing God as one who doesn’t listen, speak or act in our lives is dire. As David concludes the stanza in Psalm 115:8, “Those who make them are like them; / So is everyone who trusts in them.” When we see God in such a way, we become like that image. Unable to listen, speak or act in the world as we were created to do so.

The fact is, God doesn’t need you! You need Him! He can effectively carry out His work without us, but He chooses us. Not for His benefit, but for ours.

As 2 Corinthians 6:16 says, “And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them / And walk among them. / I will be their God, / And they shall be My people.’”

He is the living Lord, who lives in us and desires to work through us. If He is not working through your life today, then your God is too small. “…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) God working through you is not for His benefit, but for yours. It is how He teaches you who he created you to be. “And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)

History has shown that people will readily give up freedom in exchange for safety. It is easier and more comfortable. Yet, history also shows that those who exchange freedom for safety eventually lose both. Which is why the Bible says over 30 times “fear not” and over 30 times to be courageous.

So, FEAR NOT! Be strong and courageous! Bring your eyes, ears, mouth, hands and feet (the entirety of your being) before the living Lord and ask Him to live through you today! I think you will find He is much greater than anything you’ve ever imagined; and I think you will find that you were created for greater things in Him as well.

© 2025 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.