There are very few individuals who listen to the Word of God in our world today. Listening is a natural occurrence. A sound or a message can be heard by anybody with ears. But listening is different. Listening implies the involvement of paying mind to something, letting the message penetrate into the heart, and having the mind to do what God is saying. This subject matter made me think about it since I understood that there were moments in my personal life when I heard the Word of God and it did not transform me. I heard it and walked away. Nobody can hear, but only with humility and a willing heart can one listen.
There is a distinction between hearing and listening in the Bible. The Bible states in James 1:22 the following: Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceive thyself. This is a scripture that demonstrates that it is not enough to hear. We are deceiving ourselves when we hear only and do not do anything. We might believe that we are becoming spiritual beings when actually nothing happens within us. When results in our lives occur because of the Word that is real growth.
The Parable of the Sower is also a subject Jesus addressed in Matthew 13. He described how various individuals receive the Word of God. Others are heard And the devil snatch it away. Others listen to it with delight, and when difficulties arise they are found wanting in their foundations. Others listen to it, but the anxieties of life smother the Word. Those who listen to it with an open heart, comprehend it and follow it are the only ones who produce fruit. This parable teaches me that when listening, one needs to be attentive, understanding and obedient. The Word of God cannot relinquish fruit in my life without these things.
In other times we get acquainted with preaching. We listen to preaching every Sunday, we read Bible verses each day, and we listen to gospel songs. But still, the heart may be distant despite all this. This can be forbidden in the Bible where in Matthew 15: 8, Jesus said, This people come near unto me with their mouth, and honour me with their lips; but their heart is far away. This demonstrates that one can hear the Word of God through the ear, but not the heart. Reading this verse, I learned that God is not impressed by the knowledge of scriptures I have. He desires a listening obedient heart.
The other obvious example is in Romans 10:17, the bible states, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. This verse demonstrates the fact that hearing is a starting point of faith. But in case hearing does not bring about obedience then it is not complete. Faith must move us to action. When I hear the Word of God on forgiveness, I have to forgive. In the event I hear of holiness, it follows that I should walk in holiness. When I hear that I should love my neighbour, then I will have to love.
It is also necessary to eliminate distractions when listening to God. It is often the case that we hear the Word of God and then before we can think about it, our thoughts are already filled with our phones, our concerns, or our intentions. Psalm 46: 10 states that God told them, be still, and know that I am God. To listen, we must be still. We must quiet our hearts. When I find time to meditate with the Word of God, I realize that I get a better understanding of the Word. It starts touching upon the realms of my life that I have never considered.
Obedience is also a prerequisite to listening. In John 14: 23, Jesus said, If a man love me, he will keep my words. This implies that listening is a demonstration of love. When we really love God we do not take his Word lightly. We also leave it to dictate our decisions, our practices, our personality, and our affiliations. Listening is an act of giving up our will and letting God take charge of us.
Being spiritually dead is one of the risks of not listening. In Hebrews 5:11, Paul stated that the nation had gone deaf. This was to say that they were no longer listening with eagerness. They listened to the teachings and it could not move them any more. This is what may happen to anybody unless we are careful. Once the Word of God does not correct us, does not convict us, it is not a sign that we are listening, but only hearing.
To sum up, it is good to hear the Word of God, whereas it is better to listen. Listening brings about change. Listening brings about understanding. Obedience is a result of listening. And hearkening makes us become spiritual. This is what I am hoping to do as I look at this topic and pray that I may not be one to hear the Word, but to listen, obey and bear fruit to God. May God assist us to open our hearts, to get distracted and actually listen when God speaks. When we hear, we get life, wisdom and direction with Him.
Blessings are most likely to be accrued to those who listen and obey compared to those who just hear only