LISTEN!... Sunday

Devotional for 3/2/14

Have you ever heard that the good Lord gave us two ears and one mouth so that we could listen twice as much as we talk? Sometimes we need to be reminded of that.  Many a parent has told their child, "Listen to me!"  in order to get their attention before telling them something they feel is important.  God occasionally does something dramatic in our lives to get our attention too.  We may suffer a great loss, or we fall into what we deem to be a great sin, or we relapse with something we thought we had under control.  Sometimes these occurrences can be seen as God jarring us back to consciousness, trying to get us to listen to him and rely on him more.

God had some dramatic ways of getting the attention of the disciples.  Twice in the Bible we hear that God's voice came down from heaven over Jesus and said, "This is my son with whom I am well pleased."  Once was at the baptism of Jesus.  The other was at the transfiguration of Jesus, where three of the disciples saw Jesus glorified and appearing with Moses and Elijah before his death and resurrection.  It was dramatic and frightening.  At the transfiguration God also said, "Listen to Him."  What Jesus then said is do not be afraid, and do not tell anyone what you have seen until after the resurrection:

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.  And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.  And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.  And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”  He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”  When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.  But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”  And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.  And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” Matthew 17:1-9 (ESV)

When God tells us to "listen" we must be quiet enough to hear him.  Reading and studying his Word, the Bible, is one way to listen to what he has to say.  Hearing a good Bible based sermon is another way.  Another form of listening is meditation when it is focused on God.   Sometimes we have to stop asking him for things or questioning what he is doing and just be still and listen, and not be afraid.  May we all remember why we have two ears and only one mouth!

Thankfully, God listens to us better than we listen to him.  He always hears our prayers and answers them, in his own way and his own time of course.  He knows our prayers even before we speak them and supplies all that we need.  Thankfully he gives us not what we deserve, but what we truly need.  And what we need most is Him, his mercy and forgiveness which he freely provides!

written by 
Jan Andersen

Here is a song for today..."I Will Listen" sung by Twila Paris