Listening

Listening
08.10.08

“Listen, all the earth!
I will bring disaster on my people.
It is the fruit of their own schemes,
because they refuse to listen to me.
They have rejected my word.”
- Jeremiah 6:19

When we were young, our parents would always tell us to look both ways before crossing a street. There are those of us who have listened, and there are those of us who haven’t listened. Now our listening can become conditional, which is why we’ve gotten many constant reminders growing up. At the intermediate school I attended there was a boy who left home that day one reminder short. After school was over, walking towards the bus stop across the street, he was hit by a car. Luckily he only had a few broken bones, but perhaps if had listened to his parents, the entire situation could have been avoided.

Personally, being hit by a car has not been written on my list of “Oh Wows!” At least not yet it hasn’t. However, there have been other mishaps that, if I had only but listened, would have saved me from both physical and emotional pain. Listening is most certainly an acquired skill, it takes effort, and for some, a certain amount of skill. Jeremiah, a prophet for God, continually warned the Israelites of the destruction and agony that was going to hit their nation. They didn’t listen and only got angry with Jeremiah. Sadly enough, the reason why God was angry towards the Israelites was because they didn’t listen to Him; they followed their own cravings and ideas. God warned them to change their ways, they didn’t listen, and here God is warning them again that disaster will strike, once more they didn’t listen.

Stubborn hearts and stubborn minds got this nation in its bind (lol...it rhymes). When we become stubborn and choose not to listen, whether to our parents, the government, or most importantly God, we put ourselves at risk – of getting into trouble with the law, with the landlord, and with God. Now I enjoy certain risks of smaller magnitudes, like certain investments, racing a car on a track, or even asking the cute girl next door on a date. However, getting in trouble with the law, or worse yet, getting into trouble with God, to me, does not sound like a well thought out plan.

We all need our listening skills to improve and jump the next “leap and bound” to the next level. It will require wise decisions, focus, and being conscientious of what we are doing and saying. It also requires knowledge and being close to the Holy Spirit if we are to be like Jesus – who did all that God asked him to do. For this I strongly recommend reading God’s word daily for the purpose of knowing what God asks us to do. And just as Jesus was constantly praying to God, for His will to be done, as followers of Christ, it too would be wise to keep in constant consistent communication with the God who loves us and gives us purpose.

It is my prayer that both you and I, will be motivated to listen well, being obedient. For if we do, the time we save ourselves from hospital visits, and the agonies of backsliding will tremendously shrink. We will grow closer to God and in turn will allow ourselves to be used by God more frequently – our purpose.

Seek God with all of your heart,

Ikaika Mossman