It seems like a fitting illustration as I write these words. I'm having trouble hearing with one of my ears due to head congestion. Until this subsides, listening well will be a challenge. But, hearing and listening well are spiritual issues as well as physical ones.
"They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error." (1 John 4:5-6)
John compares and contrasts false teachers and true teachers of God's word and truth. The world is attentive to false teachers because they speak their language. But, the people of God will be attentive to the truth when they hear it. So, the challenging question is: who and what am I truly listening to?
Some of the most significant spiritual insights in my life have come through people whose comments generally seemed either shallow or misguided. In a moment of partial attentiveness, I've been jolted to awareness of a profound insight through their comments that bore the mark of God. And that seems typical of how God works. Consider, for example, the parables of Jesus. These simple stories were decidedly offensive to the learned religious leaders of Jesus' day. And yet, if they had child-like humility, they would have discovered gems of truth rich enough to explore for a lifetime, if they were only willing to listen.
The danger of knowing is that it can easily be a deterrent to further learning. The more we think we know, the less we think we have to learn. But, true wisdom is in realizing that the more we know, the more there is to know.
It is significant that Jesus often ended his parables with the phrase, "he who has ears to hear, let him hear." (i.e., Mark 4:9). He also said, "For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him." (Matthew 13:12). Learning and understandings comes in direct proportion to our ability to truly hear and listen.
My physical hearing problem today will at least partially clear in time. The greater challenge and issue, however, is concerning my spiritual hearing, as it no doubt is for you too. Maybe you and I do well today to come honestly before God for a true assessment of our spiritual hearing.
Steve
© 2010, Steve Taylor
"They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error." (1 John 4:5-6)
John compares and contrasts false teachers and true teachers of God's word and truth. The world is attentive to false teachers because they speak their language. But, the people of God will be attentive to the truth when they hear it. So, the challenging question is: who and what am I truly listening to?
Some of the most significant spiritual insights in my life have come through people whose comments generally seemed either shallow or misguided. In a moment of partial attentiveness, I've been jolted to awareness of a profound insight through their comments that bore the mark of God. And that seems typical of how God works. Consider, for example, the parables of Jesus. These simple stories were decidedly offensive to the learned religious leaders of Jesus' day. And yet, if they had child-like humility, they would have discovered gems of truth rich enough to explore for a lifetime, if they were only willing to listen.
The danger of knowing is that it can easily be a deterrent to further learning. The more we think we know, the less we think we have to learn. But, true wisdom is in realizing that the more we know, the more there is to know.
It is significant that Jesus often ended his parables with the phrase, "he who has ears to hear, let him hear." (i.e., Mark 4:9). He also said, "For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him." (Matthew 13:12). Learning and understandings comes in direct proportion to our ability to truly hear and listen.
My physical hearing problem today will at least partially clear in time. The greater challenge and issue, however, is concerning my spiritual hearing, as it no doubt is for you too. Maybe you and I do well today to come honestly before God for a true assessment of our spiritual hearing.
Steve
© 2010, Steve Taylor
posted by steve @ 8:02 AM
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