LISTEN

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life" (John 5:24).

 

According to Jesus in John 5:24, there are two conditions for eternal life: #1 hearing Jesus' word and #2 believing the One who sent Him.  Let's take the first one today--hearing Jesus' word.  The very beginning of John's gospel describes Jesus as "the Word".  "In the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God, and Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being" (John 1:1-3).  The Word is not just something to hear--but it is something to see, something to feel, and something to experience.  You are one of the "all things" that came into being through Him!

 

Today, let me encourage you to spend some time with the Word.  Start at the beginning and reread John's Gospel listening to what Jesus is saying.  As you walk around today, look for Jesus at work around you.  Invite Him to permeate your life throughout the day--to make Himself obvious.  If you ask to experience Jesus today--I have no doubt that you will!

LISTEN

"This you know, my beloved brethren.  But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger" (James 1:19).

 

It's been said, "God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we can hear twice as much as we say".  I have had to learn the art of listening.  In the past, I've been slow to listen and quick to speak...lol.  I did it so often that I had a reputation for not really listening when people were speaking to me--now that's embarrassing!  It's something that I am still working on.  Let me share with you a truth that I've learned about listening vs speaking.  It has everything to do with love.  As I've learned to be present in a room and as I've learned to value people--as I've learned how to love, it's become much easier to listen.  To listen is to love someone--to value their words, their thoughts, and their perspective.  It's worthy of note that James, in our verse today, seems to be equating anger with speaking and that he is setting both of these in opposition to the desired virtue of hearing.

 

Today, practice hearing.  Value others words, and resist the urge to add your own.  Like Job's friends did for seven days--just listen!