Tag: ears

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12.3.24. How is your hearing?

Revelation 3 Listening? 

God has spoken
Are we listening?

To each church, Jesus has said: he who has an ear had better listen. What should they listen for and what are we to be listening for? 

To the church at Sardis they should listen to the warning Jesus has for them. The society around them thinks they are alive in their Christian faith, but Jesus says they are dead. What is dead in that church? It is their deeds. They look like they are serving God but in reality they are grumbling, backbiting, lying and other sins. Jesus says wake up! Make your deeds worth something in my eyes. All is not lost however as there are some there who are dressed in white symbolizing purity. 

In contrast the church at Philadelphia has no condemnation. Jesus had given them an open door to go and minister and no one can shut it. One of the marks of this church is their steadfastness under duress. But,Jesus reminds them to persevere lest they lose that purity and their crown. 

And then there is the church at Laodicea which is dead dead dead. However, they don’t realize that this their case. They think they have done all they need to do and have all the requirements necessary. Jesus says, come and buy gold from me so you can stand strong in times of persecution. Are they listening? Seems not! Jesus reminds them that He is coming soon and they need to be ready when He knocks at their door. 

Are we listening? Are we prepared? 

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Are we prepared?

Ezekiel 40-41 For Such a Time as This

This phrase was given to Queen Esther when she hesitated to speak to her husband, the king, about Haman’s treachery. Mordecai told her that perhaps she had been put in her position ‘for such a time as this.’ She asked her maids to fast (and we imagine, pray) for wisdom to know what to say and when to say it. In this chapter in Ezekiel, we find something similar. “The man said to me (that is Ezekiel), “Son of man, see with your eyes, hear with your ears, and give attention to all that I am going to show you, for you have been brought here in order to show it to you. Declare to the house of Israel all that you see.” [Ezek 40:4]

God desires three things of us: a heart that is prepared to see with our eyes hear with our ears, and have a heart to understand what the Sovereign Lord is saying. As we begin our reading each day and as we enter His presence to pray, do we ask God for these three things so we might give attention to His Word and be able to share what the Holy Spirit reveals to us?

The challenge for today: Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten our understanding so we might be able to impart the truth of the scriptures to others. 

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Are you just hearing or are you listening?

ImageJesus taught the listening audience with parables which are like illustrations that reveal the heart and spiritual truths. Wiersbe wrote: A parable begins innocently as a picture that arrests our attention and arouses our interest. But as we study the picture, it becomes a mirror in which we suddenly see ourselves. If we continue to look by faith, the mirror becomes a window through which we see God and His truth. How we respond to that truth will determine what further truth God will teach us.” As Jesus presented the parable of the soils many heads were nodding yet later the disciples asked for clarification. Jesus asked them: “Don’t you understand this parable? Then how will you understand any parable?” And perhaps he is asking you and I the same questions.

“Listen!” This parable is about the three enemies: the “god” of hardness, the “god” of shallowness, the “god” of the crowded life. As the sower cast his seed some fell along the hardened path. This is a reflection of a hardened heart much like the religious leaders who watched with purpose to accuse and assassinate him. Their “god” is intellectualism and man-made rules even though Jesus provided the heavenly evidence of a withered hand restored. Some seed fell among the rocky ground. This is the “god” of the shallow heart that lacks hunger or thirst for the deep meanings of God. The Word does not penetrate their will or their way of life. These are unable to discern truth from error and thus are led away into false theology. The seed that fell among the thorns reflects the heart that is crowded by calendars and the clock—no time to read, study or meditate. These are satisfied with a “ticket punch” and not the deep truths that God offers those who seek Him. In sharp contrast is the seed that fell on the good soil/heart which reflects the hungering and thirsting heart that searches the Word to see if what is said is true. These are the Bereans that Paul commended. These are the ones whose seed sprouts, then a stalk appears, then the head and finally the fruit ready for harvest.

Jesus said: “Whoever has ears to hear had better listen!” In other words: Listen with your ears but hear with your heart.

Photo credit: moazmodernvinyl.com

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Anne Frank and Matthew 24 … Are We Ready?

ImageIn the biography of Anne Frank, the little girl whose diary survived WWII but she did not; Anne’s father, Otto Frank, speaks of his optimism that life will return to normal. It of course did not and he was the sole survivor of his family.  Anne’s father inherited and shared her manuscripts that the world might never forget what truly happened. Even as Otto Frank watched his nation tumble into the abyss of anti-Semitism he kept saying, “it will get better.” Otto was not expecting the turn of events that ultimately would seal his fate as a Jew and his family’s death warrant.

How like Otto we are, optimists as to the future. But, then, as now we watch our world tumble into anarchy, chaos, economies drifting, leaders coming and going, false teachers/prophets deceiving and lawlessness on the rise we can no longer say…this too will pass and life will once again be “normal.”  Jesus says the root of the problem lies in that the love of many will grow cold. The hearts that once beat with the excitement of being a follower of the Christ will turn to apathy and discontent. The Apostle John under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit reveals the downward spiral in the 7 churches as he penned Revelation. Jesus continuously reminded his audience and the disciples in particular “he who has ears to hear, better listen.”  

The disciples pondering Jesus announcement of the destruction of the temple leads to seeking answers to three questions. As Jesus answers he pointedly remarks that if truth be known we are unprepared due to the coldness of our hearts. We have allowed our minds to be dulled and our spirits flagging due to this one main issue. We are not studiously studying, memorizing, sharing and even worse is the fact that we are not expecting the return of the Master anytime soon. We have become comfortable with our world as it is. Jesus remarked two times: 24:44 Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. 24:50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee,” Just as in the days of Noah, they “knew nothing.” Today it is astounding how many do not know or choose to not know. Do you know the scriptures? Are you expecting the return of the Master?

The fields are ripe and ready for harvest—are we in the field? Are we ready? Are we waiting in anticipation of his glorious return? Are we watching the clouds?

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