We can hear but not listen. The Greek word for listen is akouo and one of the meanings is to comprehend or to understand. When we hear and not listen we do not learn and our growth is stagnant, but when we concentrate and listen with the belief of doing we grow and transform into new creations. Think of a time when you went somewhere to hear something you really weren’t interested in. You could hear what that person was saying but nothing stuck in your mind because you really weren’t listening. It also happens with our spouses or friends when we are not interested in what they are saying or we are distracted by something else during the conversation. We must open our hearts and be willing to listen and hear what God have given us so we can make a difference in this world.
I love what Jesus says to a person who shares that His mother and brothers want to see Him. Luke chapter 8 verse 23, “Jesus replied, “My mother and brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.” There is so much that happens when we obey God’s word and live to learn and understand. Our hearts continue to grow and we are able to handle the craziness of this world that will never stop trying to win our hearts so we waver in our thoughts.
In 2 Corinthians chapter 11 Paul goes on to share an important message to the church and it is one we should read and remember. Verses 1-4 say, “For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God Himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband – Christ. But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.” When we believe and accept Jesus we start growing and our excitement keeps us focused on hearing what He is saying and our hearing keeps us believing what Jesus did for us and we joyfully want to learn more so we seek His wisdom. And it is His wisdom that moves us to be obedient to His teaching and the Spirit shows us all that we need to be disciples planting seeds and watering them. We shouldn’t get caught up in just hearing we should do what Jesus says and “pay attention to how you hear.” Amen