WANTED: GOOD LISTENERS!

Scripture:  Matthew 7:12 (NKJV) - Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”  

Have you ever been talking to somebody, and you haven’t finished more than a couple of sentences before their eyes start scanning the horizon for someone else they can greet or grab the attention of, leaving you standing there wondering, ‘Gee, what happened?  Was I boring them that much?’ We may covertly chuckle a bit at this oh-too-frequent scenario, but I wonder how God feels when we are dismissive like that toward HIS voice!  (Of course, for this discussion’s sake, we must suspend for a bit the fact of His omniscience; in regard to people, He KNOWS what He’s working with ahead of time and is absolutely aware of how fickle and distracted we all can be on occasion).  

People are somewhat rare of whom others can say, ‘Oh, when talking with ‘so-and-so,’ she makes you feel like you’re the most important person in the room!’  Unfortunately, some of us (I hate to say it) have the attention span of a gnat, and trying to conversate with such folks brings to mind the question posed in 1 John 4:20 – “…he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” Similarly, how can we be expected to seriously pursue being attentive to the “still, quiet voice” of God’s Spirit, when we too often fail to actively (i.e., attentively) listen when our brother or sister tries to engage us in simple conversation?!?

We all want to believe that when we speak, others are paying attention, don’t we?  In fact, listening is of paramount importance to God, as we can see in verses like Isaiah 55:2b, which associates listening with delight.  In John 8:43, Jesus chides His rejectors by declaring their refusal to listen; and in Acts 13:16 the Spirit, speaking through the Apostle Paul, likens listening to fearing God!  Are you persuaded of the godly virtue of being a true listener?  Let’s all purpose to be better listeners; it blesses others, just knowing they’ve been heard; and it blesses us, especially when the One who wants most of all to have our undivided ear can TRUST us to attend to His voice!

Prayer:  Precious Lord:  As one popular song says, “You’re a good, good Father; it’s who You are, and I’m loved by You.”  (Chris Tomlin song)  Help us to show others the utmost respect (and love) when we are speaking with them.  It’s one of the ways that You desire Your children to represent You when we engage others in conversation.  Thank You; Amen!

(By Sis. Denise Diggs)