He called the people to him again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand." - Mark 7:14
As he said these things, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." - Luke 8:8
Take care then how you hear. - Luke 8:18
And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." - Luke 10-38-42
4 comments:
Have you ever said to one of your children, "Listen to me!!!"
I have, and I can remember my dad doing the same.
It meant I had better pay attention.
Working today; meetings, discussions, reviewing contracts and policies....I've kept the Mark 7:14 and Luke 10 verses out on a card on my desk. Originally it was because of the "you are anxious and troubled about many things.." part of Luke 10, but I kept coming back to the "hear me."
If we fear God, won't we listen to Him more intently?
So, I'm thinking....I don't listen to him enough because I don't fear Him enough; or correctly; or something.
Gulp!
From the on-line study guide to "What Jesus Demands from the World:" Chapter 6—Listen to Me (pp. 56–61)
26. What reasons for listening to Jesus does Piper list? Can you think of any others that Jesus said?
27. How do Jesus’ words lead to eternal life?
28. What hinders so many people from being willing to listen to Jesus and truly hearing him and
believing the truth of his words?
29. Explain what Piper means by a “non-listener” by describing what it means to have “no place” for Jesus’ word, to not be “of the truth,” and to not be “of God.”
30. How do you listen to Jesus? How much do you listen to Jesus? How much do you listen to Jesus
compared to how much you listen to other competing “voices”?
Good pondering. Huh?
God "suggests" that we listen to Jesus. Can you image the rebuke that Peter, James, and John received from God the Father?
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"
Ouch!
Moreover, Jesus said that those that are on the side of truth listen to him.
"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
The wonderful news is that if/when we will quit listening to ourselves and just listen to God, then His will, His way, and His goodness are evident in our lives.
Lord ... may I listen to you more intently and more regularly!
Good question David, because if Peter, James, and John didn't get it at the time, I can't imagine what their thoughts were later after experiencing Jesus rise from the dead, stay around for 40 days, and then ascend into heaven. Gulp...can you imagine the thoughts and conversations they must have had afterwards!!
Jesus was and is the King and he was with God from the beginning, and yet, I don't listen to him (?).
Jerry Bridges, in his book "The Joy of Fearing God" pointed out to me this morning the following:
1. God is so huge that all the waters of the seas could be held in the hollow of His hand (Isiah 40:12)
2. what we do recognize and hear is a whisper of His greatness (Job 26:14)
3. The earth's dirt is like dust that God can hold in a single container the size of His basket.
4. The world's most powerful nations all totaled together are no more to God than a drop of moisture falling from a bucket (vs Isaiah 40: 15-17).
Mr. Bridges goes on with other comparisons (pages 45-56) and ends up talking about trusting God and how we are likely not to trust God because we don't visualize Him any bigger than our own selves and problems.
My adherance to Jesus' demand to listen, or not, is the same. It's not how big I think He is, but how big He REALLY is!
It's not about me, but about His majesty; His power; His greatness; His magnificance; His size!
I need to succumb to His demand through faith. Because I don't really get it and never will on this earth. It's not about knowing all the why's and when's and how much's, but about faith in Jesus.
And I fear that I don't fear Him enough.
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