Week 9 Challenge:  Listen Up

What did Jesus say?

Hear God’s Voice

  • Matthew 11:15 “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”

In Other Text:

  • Hosea 14:19 Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.
  • Mark 4:24-25 Then He added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”

Challenge: 

It doesn’t seem like we should need directions for how to use our ears.  But the One who knows us best understands that we often use our ears to hear instruction, but our actions prove we didn’t listen at all. 

For example:  You tell a child to clean their room.  They heard you, but the room still looks like a hurricane blew on through.  They heard you, but they didn’t listen to you.  You tell a child not to touch the hot stove.  They heard you, but they pressed their pudgy palm right on to that glowing burner.  They heard you, but they didn’t listen….and now they’re hurting.

We don’t really change much as we get older.  We hear God’s Word instruct us, as His kids, to love our neighbor, to forgive others as we have been forgiven, to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.  But…are we listening?  Do our daily thoughts, words, and actions prove that we listened to His warnings and His ways? When we duck out from underneath the protection of God’s Word and ways, we leave ourselves vulnerable to getting hurt, or hurting others.  Our Father loves us, and longs for His children to listen to Him.  Commit today to use your ears to listen to God’s voice this week.

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