March 8, 2020 – Are You Listening (John 12: 27-30, 44-50)
Have to make a confession here. I’m not the best listener.
I would love to blame that on my advancing years. Or I would love to say that it’s because of the years I played in a Classic Rock band, and louder was definitely better. I want to blame it on the simple fact that I don’t hear as well as I used to.
But that’s not my problem. It’s not my hearing. It’s my listening.
I’ve had the struggle for years. There would be times (and still are) when Cathy would be sharing a story with me, and I would have one eye on the hockey game, or my guitar in my hands, … and I would nod absently along with her story … hoping I would not hear that sudden silent pause which WOULD get my attention… followed by the declaration – “You haven’t listened to a word I said.”
And of course, I would try to fumble my way out of this moment by answering with a quick denial. “No, no. I’m listening. I know what you’re saying.”
Big mistake.
“Then what am I saying?”
Busted.
I could hear her words. I just wasn’t paying attention. Why not? Maybe my mind was on other things. Maybe I might have been thinking that what she was saying just wasn’t relevant. Maybe I just didn’t want to listen. (Yikes!) Whatever the case … I was in the wrong in too many ways.
Scriptures say we are to not only be hearers of the WORD, but doers as well. Right?
But notice – we are to be hearers. We must listen to the WORD. We need to pay attention.
Three terrific verses that should get you thinking about listening to the WORD are these.
John 1:1, 14 – In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was God. … The WORD became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (Jesus IS the WORD!)