Do you remember playing a game called "Simon Says"?  It was a game that emphasized thinking rather than activity.  The leader would issue a series of commands to the rest of the players.  If a command began with "Simon Says," it was O.K. to do it.  But if it did not begin with those magic words of permission, you could not do what was commanded.  When someone did something Simon didn't say to do, that person was out of the game.

     As I was remembering that childhood game recently, I thought how it is similar to the task of living the Christian life.  The magic words for us are not "Simon Says," but "Jesus Says."  Anything Jesus says we are to do is legal and proper.  But we are not to do things without His command.

     Sometimes it is not too hard to know if Jesus is telling us to do something, or if the instruction is coming from some other source.  But at other times, when things are coming at us rapid-fire, we get confused and make mistakes.

     Sometimes we do something because others are doing it.  Churches are especially guilty of this.  Jesus may or may not have told someone else to do something, but the question we must answer is whether He told us to do it.  If He did, we can and should obey.  If He did not, we dare not step out.

     Sometimes we do something because it seems logical or natural.  Since God is a God of order, His commands often seem logical.  But His instructions occasionally seem illogical and unnatural, because we can't see the whole picture.  The question we must answer is whether He has spoken.  If we have no clear word from Him, but are simply doing what seems logical, we may be on dangerous ground.

     How can we know if Jesus is speaking or not?  Our primary source is the Bible.  If we regularly spend time in the Word we begin to get a feel for the things He does and does not want all of His children to do.

     But knowing His specific instruction in a given situation is much harder.  That requires a spiritual sensitivity which comes from time spent meditating on the Word and talking to the Lord in prayer.  Even then, He doesn't usually speak with an audible voice.  He often forms thoughts and words in our hearts which are clear and compelling.  Thoughts which will not go away until we take action.

     We need to be sure Jesus is speaking.  When we have that assurance, we can proceed with confidence, no matter what others say or do.