listening

 Listening is important. In my line of work, I often tell children to be sure they listen and work on listening skills. We need to hear and listen. We need to attend.  God reminded me that we, as Christians, need to attend to his voice and his word. We need to listen and hear what is spoken.  He is speaking to his people, but often we just nod and go on. We don’t take the time to listen to what he is saying, nor attend to it.

James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

 

Proverbs 4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings

 

Proverbs 7:24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth

 

Listen, hear, attend.  Each of these may be a little different. Listen is to give one's attention to a sound. Hear is to perceive with the ear the sound made by someone or something. Attend is to pay attention to.

Listening to God is to give him your attention, turn to him, and tune in to hear what he is speaking. Hearing is perceiving, being conscious of, realizing or understanding what he is speaking. Attending to what he speaks is to pay attention, give importance to, and to apply your mind or energies to what he says.

Scripture is clear about listening to God’s voice. Many of the people in the Bible are examples of those who listened and those who did not listen.  Moses obeyed God, listened to the voice of God and followed God.  One time, he did not heed or obey what God spoke for him to do. This resulted in Moses not entering the Promised Land.  Saul disobeyed God.  He did not listen to the warnings from Samuel and chose a path of continued disobedience resulting in a sad ending of his life, his son’s lives and loss of the throne.  Yet, Paul is one who listened to God. He attended to the call of God and was mightily used of God. Hosea is a man who listened to God and obeyed the words of God. There are many examples of both in the Bible.  We can also see modern day examples. Corrie Ten Boom once spoke about how she obeyed God is reaching out to shake the hand of one of the guards from the concentration camp she had been held in. In that moment of obedience, God filled her with forgiveness for that man.  There are missionaries I know today who have listened to and attended to the call of God for their lives. It is not easy to leave everything and everyone and go to a place that speaks a different language with a different culture and go to preach the gospel. I am grateful for these examples. Many men and women of God have walked lives with the results of listening to God’s voice and there are many who have been dealt the consequences of not listening to God’s voice. God is faithful to those who are faithful to him.

Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

 

We have so many reasons to listen to God. We have so many reasons why we don’t. We need to come to the realization that what God has for us is greater than any reason or excuse we have for not attending to his word and just listen to what he speaks to us. The results of listening to God, hearing his voice and attending to what he speaks are greater than we can ever imagine. He may take us down a path we do not understand. He may use us in ways that challenge us and bring growth. He knows what is best for us and is working for our good. We place our faith in his word and walk in the direction he sends us. It may not always be easy, but it will work for our good. Listen, hear and attend to the word of the Lord.

lead and teach

 This weekend is Mother's Day. We celebrate our moms and women who have taken care of us. Many nice things will be given and said.  I had a wonderful mom.  I am glad and grateful for her.  I am also very thankful she and dad raised me in church.

As a Christian,  I am so thankful for the example she was to me and my siblings.  I am thinking about that example and the example I need to be as well. In 2 Timothy 1:5 Paul wrote about two women who were examples and teachers.

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

2 Timothy 1:5

Timothy had a grandmother and a mother that had instructed him in truth, not only that, they lived it as an example in front of him. These women were mentioned for a reason. They are examples for the generations who followed.

Godly example and teaching is more important today than ever.  This world is seeing uncertainty and evil. God has given instructions to parent to teach our children and be the example they need to go forward in faith.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 KJV

We have instruction to be an example.

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12 KJV

We are to lead by example.  This doesn't just apply to parents, but any person who is to be a leader or teacher. Our personal faith and walk with God is on display to those we lead and teach. We are accountable for our own examples.  We must lead by being an example.  Our personal daily lives, prayer lives, our words, and actions must reflect a heart dedicated to God. Our time must reflect love of Christ and others. We must recognize we have accountability for how we lead.  

Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;  Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.

Deuteronomy 4:9‭-‬10 KJV

Take heed for yourself, make sure you are the example that is right,  and teach your children to also follow after Christ.  We have a lot to live up to.  Does that mean we cannot make mistakes? No. It means when we do, we ask forgiveness and demonstrate that God's grace is sufficient for us as well. We teach even in our failures to turn to God.  We teach and lead by how we handle life, and all the ups and downs.  1 Peter 4:8 tells us that love covers a multitude of sins. We can be a demonstration of God's love to us and extend that same grace to others.  

There is great reward in being an example and teaching our children to serve the Lord.  

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

3 John 1:4 KJV

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Proverbs 31:28 KJV

Oh what joy to know your children are serving God. What peace to know they also know Jesus as their own savior.  I cannot think of a greater blessing as a parent than to know your children walk in truth.  That is my greatest, most desperate prayer, for my children to know God. All else in this world pales in comparison.   Jobs come and go, sports come and go, even money comes and goes. But their soul will last forever. 

Children, young and old, need to look for Godly examples.  We need mentors and teachers to look to. We should not despise the instructions and examples we have before us. Value the elders who have already walked a lifetime. Find strength in their wisdom. Seek their counsel. Do not trade a Godly leaders wisdom for lies. 

Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.  Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.  The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.  Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.

Proverbs 23:22‭-‬25 KJV

I pray we all become, the examples we need to be to those who come after us, teach them the truth and pray for them to love and  chase after truth. I pray for my Godly leaders and seek to counsel from them.  This world would want us to put aside the wisdom of God and put aside faith. This world seeks to destroy truth, but we can be examples of Godly faith and teachers of truth that will sustain and grow the next generation of Godly leaders and parents.  As parents, and as leaders and teachers, may we follow the instruction of God to be what he has asked us to be. Lead and teach the truth.