Listen Listen Listen

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock”

 Matthew 7:24


The Bible has much to say about hearing and listening. People ask what’s the difference? Hearing is knowing there is music playing whereas listening is knowing what song is playing. Speaking of hearing, I laugh just thinking about this joke. “An elderly gentleman in his early 80’s went to the doctor for his annual physical and the doctor said he checked out just fine and before he left the exam room the doctor asked his elderly patient if there was anything the doctor could be of help with and he said yes. The man went on to explain how he believed his wife was losing her hearing but she was somewhat in denial so was there anything the man could do at home to help assess his wife’s hearing condition. The doctor said when you get home open the door and say “What’s for dinner?” If your wife responds then you know she can hear from about 20’ away. If there is no response take about 5 steps and say again, “What’s for dinner?” If she responds you know her hearing is good from about 15’ away. If there is no response go up to the kitchen were you can see her and say the words again, “What’s for dinner?” If she responds you can safely know she can hear from about 10’ away.”

“The elderly patient gets home and opens the door and says, “What’s for dinner?” Nothing heard. He takes 5 steps in and says again, “What’s for dinner?” He hears not a word. He walks up to the kitchen door where he sees his wife with her back to him working at the kitchen sink and so he says again, “What’s for dinner?” And immediately his wife spins around and in a frustrated tone she says, “Chicken for the third time!”  

With age it’s natural to lose our hearing but thank God today even if we were to go deaf we can still hear the voice of God who speaks to our mind and our spirit. As a matter of fact I know a few elderly men and women whose spiritual ears seem to be even more keen as they age. Are you aware you can become a better listener the older you get. Hearing and listening in the Bible are often interchangeable and yet a clear distinction is hearing doesn’t necessarily constitute obedience whereas listening very often in the Bible is directly linked to obedience to God.

I know as I age my hearing isn’t as good as it once was and yet as my hearing deteriorates the Lord has taught me many valuable lessons regarding the art of listening. For example, because of my loss of hearing I have learned how important it is for me to be looking at the person who is speaking “face to face”. My wife has had this habit our entire married life that when she is talking to me she often times moving throughout the house and even into the next room. This last year I have had to ask her to stop when she is speaking to me and look at me. As a man and a husband, lol, it’s the best chance I have of hearing her to begin with. I often feel like the guy whose wife says, “You didn’t hear a word I said” and he thinks to himself, “That’s a strange way to start a conversation.” LOL.

Here is the point. Are you aware that the Lord desires we listen to Him, face to face? The Greek word “Ginosko” means “personal knowledge, as a man knows a woman face to face”. One of my favorite definitions for worship is, “To turn and kiss”. There is no mistaking it, God desires intimacy with us and just like in any healthy relationship, communication is the bedrock. Couples who really love each other listen to each other. As a matter of fact thats one of their favorite things to do, to listen to each other share, and there is nothing better than being face to face.  

The devil wants us to be busy that we don’t listen to the Lord because he knows listening to God and obeying His voice is where our peace comes from. The Bible is filled with verse after verse regarding our listening to God and the benefits we enjoy as we not only hear what God says when He speaks but that we obey what we hear when we hear it.

James the half brother of Jesus says in the epistle bearing his name, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry” (James 1:19). James 1:22-25 goes on to say, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”

God is a blessing God but He can’t bless us if we won’t listen to Him, and if we won’t do what He instructs us to do. Here is a verse to keep this in mind, and to ponder deeply today…

“Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.”

Proverbs 8:34–35


I LOVE YOU!