How often has someone spoken to you, yet when he has finished, you can’t remember what was said? You heard what was said but had not really listened. How many times have we read the Bible or heard a Sunday sermon and thereafter, could not remember what we read or heard?
In Luke 8:18 Jesus said, “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” (New Living Translation)
When Jesus was on earth, crowds of people followed Him to listen to Him. If we had been alive then, would we be part of this crowd listening to every Word?
As God speaks to us from His Word by the power of His Spirit, we should not only hear Him but listen to what He is saying. So be careful how you listen to what He wants to say to us because it is His personal message to us.
Firstly, we need to have a listening heart. Luke 10:39 “And she had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching.” We need a listening heart like Mary’s, so that the Lord can download His Word into our lives.
Then, we must come to the Word with an open heart, with a desire and willingness to receive what He has for us from His Word. He knows the areas of our lives that need to be changed and uses His Word to reveal and minister to our spiritual needs.
The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (Amplified Bible); “Every Scripture is God breathed – given by His inspiration and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Lastly, we need to have an obedient heart. James 1:22 says “But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves”.
Therefore, listen, pay attention, be open to His Word, and obey all that God has instructed us to do. May we hear Him say, “This is the way, walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21), and we follow His direction without hesitation.
God bless you.
Larry
Comments