Are You Listening?
(Read Proverbs 2)
It was a hectic Monday morning, like most. My morning routine begins with quiet time in the Word, a daily devotional, prayer, then answering emails. After I go through my inbox, I always scan my trash and spam folders to see if I trapped any legit messages. I saw one from a social media representative. It looked authentic, had the right information, and was written in proper English. It mentioned suspending a business account I manage.
I was panicked. This would have a big impact on my client and me. The fear was overwhelming. There was a link to click to appeal the decision. I clicked on it and began to fill out the form. Then, they asked for my password. I thought to myself, why would they want that? What does that matter? An alarm went off. I googled the subject line of my email adding “scam” in the query. Several articles mentioned this popular and effective phishing scam. Finally, I checked the URL behind the submit button in the form and it was not pointing directly to the social media channel. After re-reading the email one last time, I noticed a grammatical error. Just one. 99.9% of the time, email scams have at least one mistake but I had missed it. I thanked God for the flashing lights!
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
Hebrews 2:1
During the 5-minutes of that experience, God was warning me to pay attention. I knew better. I work in the industry. The email was in my spam folder for a reason. How many times in our lives do we listen to ourselves, ignoring what God is trying to tell us? When I think back to what I did yesterday, I can always find a takeaway I can learn from. I can do this for every day of my life, but my takeaways are not temporary things of the world, the lessons I learn are gifts from God. They are messages from Him. Things He is telling us that we need to listen to.
The writer of Hebrews also warned his readers to pay attention to what Jesus said. Another translation of paying closer attention is “giving earnest heed.” It sounds more direct and urgent doesn’t it? This principle might prove fruitful to an unbeliever, but it is imperative for a Christian to follow. “Giving earnest heed” is more than a listening skill, it includes action. We must do what God tells us. The ancient Greek concept for drift away was to slip. So when we don’t listen carefully and do as God is urging us to, we risk the penalty of slipping.
The expression “It sounds too good to be true” comes to mind. Think of the wisdom behind it. Is it from experience? Yes. But, it’s also from wisdom. A gut feeling isn’t always instinctive. It can be more than that. God placed more than fight or flight in our brain. He also placed the capacity for wisdom and discernment.
“You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.”
John 11:42
Jesus learned of his good friend Lazarus’ illness when he was somewhere between the river Jordan and Jerusalem. Despite the urgency of the illness, Jesus didn’t rush. Jesus knew there was a bigger and better plan at stake than healing Lazarus at the first call. Sometimes Jesus prayed in seclusion and sometimes publicly. In this case, he prayed for many to hear. It was important for people to witness the Father and Son united in purpose. This wasn’t a demonstration of the power of miracles, it was a demonstration of the power of our true Holy God. It was a demonstration of faith, and Jesus wanted people to take note.
Lazarus’ sister Mary was pretty upset with Jesus for not coming to heal her brother immediately. She was outspoken to say the least. Jesus didn’t correct her. His response was patient and compassionate. He wants a relationship, a dialogue with us. If we’re communicating with Him, that means we’re not just talking, we’re listening too.
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:1-5
When we are attentive to God’s voice (and Word), we not only learn to recognize the awesomeness of God, but we also gain the knowledge of God. Listening is not hearing. Hearing is passive while listening requires activity. Communicating with God means giving earnest heed, shouting, crying, and quiet listening. This process keeps us tethered to God’s plan for us and leads to discovering more of His knowledge.
Over the past year, I have had two friends tragically lose spouses, and more people than I want to count experience cancer and other life-altering illnesses. The biggest pleas that I hear from these folks are, “Why, I don’t understand, I’m confused.” Silence is a good reply. None of us are capable of answering these probing questions. None of us, save one.
What I try to remember in my daily journey is to seek out what God is doing through my victories and my struggles. What is God telling me through both? Are my wins for my ego or for His glory? Are my sufferings a punishment to keep me in my place or are they something God will use for His ultimate good? God doesn’t share His timing or plan, but He does share His many promises. They are all guaranteed to be true. God is beside us through everything. When I’m really hurting, I sometimes feel all alone with no way out. But, when I’m listening, when I’m seeking God’s counsel, I’m clicking on a direct link to His knowledge.
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
Exodus 3:3-5
Moses had believed in God but I doubt at that point in his life, he was seeking Him. Knowing there is a God is different from looking for Him. But hey, when you see a bush on fire that isn’t being consumed by the fire, it will draw anyone’s attention. It was an unmistakable sign. God had a message for Moses.
So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
Exodus 3:10-12
God gave clear directions to Moses but He never said the path would be easy. Same goes for us. God is working through us in a variety of ways which is why we should always be listening and looking for clues. We don’t all get something like a burning bush.
In my haste, to avoid ruffling feathers, out of insecurity and fear, I almost fell for the scam. It was definitely not life or death even though fear made me feel like it was. What struck me immediately after was that I wasn’t paying attention to God’s warnings. Then, when I recognized the truth, I could see, hear, and feel His presence beside me. There are too many twists, pits, and cliffs in life to navigate without a map. Giving earnest heed to God provides the perfect compass. Every day I ask myself, what is His message to me? Am I listening?
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
Psalm 62:5-6
Key Applications:
- Read Proverbs 2. How deeply do we seek God’s wisdom? Do we seek God like we seek our greatest treasures? Try to be more earnest in listening for God’s voice this week.
- This week, pay close attention to your journey and your decisions. Are your choices on your map or God’s?
- Pray that we have eyes open to see God’s plan for us, pray that we have ears to hear His gentle voice directing us to stay on His course, and pray that we feel His love.
Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.