Does God Still Speak?

After service, he went out with some friends for coffee and pie, and they discussed the message.   Several different people talked about how God had led them in different ways.  It was about ten o'clock in the evening when the young man started driving home.   Sitting in his car, he began to pray, "God... If you still speak to people, speak to me.  I will listen.   I will do my best to obey."

As he drove down the main street of town, he had the strangest thought, 'stop and buy a gallon of milk'.   He shook his head and said out loud, "God is that you?"  He didn't get a reply and started on toward home.  Again, he thought 'Stop and buy a gallon of milk'.   The young man thought about Samuel and how he didn't recognize the voice of God, and how little boy Samuel ran to Eli.

"Okay God, in case that is you talking to me, I will buy the milk".  It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience.  He could always use the milk himself.   He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home.  As he passed Seventh street, he again felt the urge, 'Turn down that street'.  This is crazy, he thought to himself, and drove on past the intersection.   Again, he felt he should turn around and go back to Seventh street.   At the next intersection, he went back to Seventh street, and half-jokingly said aloud, "Okay God, I will."   

He drove several blocks, when suddenly he felt he should stop.  He pulled over to the curb and looked around.  He was in a semi-commercial area of town.  It wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst neighborhood.  The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark - like the people were already in bed.   Again, he sensed something, 'Go and give the milk to the people in the house across the street'.  

The young man looked at the house.  It was dark and looked like the people were either gone away or they were already asleep.  He started to open the car door, and then sat back in his seat.  "Lord, this is insane!  Those people are asleep, and if I wake them, they will be angry with me, and I will look stupid".

Again, he felt like he should go and give the milk.  Finally, he opened the door, "Okay God, if this is you, I will go to the door, and I will give them the milk.  If you want me to look like I'm crazy, okay.  I want to be obedient.  I guess that will count for something, but if they don't answer quickly, I am leaving."   He walked to the house and rang the bell.  He could hear some  noise inside.   A man's voice yelled out, "Who is it?  What do you want?"

Then, before the young man could run back to his car, the door opened and a man stood there in his T-shirt and jeans.  He looked like he had just got out of bed.  He had a strange look on his face, and he didn't seem happy to see a stranger on his door step.  "What?" ...  The young man gave him the milk, and said "Here, I brought this for you."   

The man took the milk and rushed down the hallway speaking loudly to his wife.   She handed him a crying baby and took the milk into the kitchen.  The man had tears rolling down his face.   He said, "We had some big bills this month and ran out of money.  We didn't have any milk for our baby.  I was praying that God would show me how to get some milk.     His wife said, "I asked God to send an angel....  Are you an angel?"

The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had and put it in the father's hand.  Then, the young man turned and walked back to his car, and tears were rolling down his face.   He knew he heard the voice of God, and that God still answers prayers.