Saturday, December 18, 2021

Listening Ears



On my drive from work just recently I heard the brief accounts of Mary & Joseph on the radio. The speaker finished by mentioning that both of them had not listened to what the world had to say about them, but quietly obeyed God, and consequently, delivered the infant Savior into the world.  Which in turn, delivered the world from eternal separation from God.  Bottom line: listen to God, not the world. 


It’s hard to be quiet these days. It’s even harder to listen.  To carve out any moments to seek God, read about him, or think on His word is challenging when we have so much vying for our time and attention. Moms, I know you are as harried as I am, but without my morning reading and prayer, I could also say I am grumpy, unstable, and lost.  My spiritual compass needs a daily resetting, and my soul aches for the sweet, wise reminders found in the Bible.


So, how is it, that even in purposeful setting-aside-of-peaceful-morning-time, I can still be so distracted? The temptations of social media and online browsing of a million items can steer me so quickly some days from the true source of Life.


That darn Pinterest can give such a creative boost to my event planning, but simply cannot feed my soul, even with all its shiny ideas that refine every detail of life.  Facebook tends to lure me in for unreasonable amounts of time, until I pull away with a twinge of comparison envy.  Lastly, online shopping can feel like a sport to me these days… adding to a cart in record time, and having the merchandise of the world at my fingertips. Ugh.  I am so easily entrapped by what the world offers.


Jesus speaks on this matter in a short story about a sower:


“People kept coming to Jesus from one town after another; and when a great crowd gathered, Jesus told this parable: “Once there was a man who went out to sow corn. As he scattered the seed in the field, some of it fell along the path, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it up. Some of it fell on rocky ground, and when the plants sprouted, they dried up because the soil had no moisture. Some of the seed fell among thorn bushes, which grew up with the plants and choked them. And some seeds fell in good soil; the plants grew and produced corn, 100 grains each.” And Jesus concluded, “Listen, then, if you have ears!””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:4-8‬ 



““This is what the parable means: the seed is the word of God. The seeds that fell along the path stand for those who hear; but the Devil comes and takes the message away from their hearts in order to keep them from believing and being saved. The seeds that fell on rocky ground stand for those who hear the message and receive it gladly. But it does not sink deep into them; they believe only for a while but when the time of testing comes, they fall away. The seeds that fell among thorn bushes stand for those who hear; but the worries and riches and pleasures of this life crowd in and choke them, and their fruit never ripens. The seeds that fell in good soil stand for those who hear the message and retain it in a good and obedient heart, and they persist until they bear fruit.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:11-15‬ ‭


For some of you, this blog entry has been too lengthy. You have a to-do list and a deadline choking out the truth of these words.  Listen carefully: even Jesus mentions our Enemy, the Devil. His scheme is to keep you busy and very productive, away from God’s word. But just like our precious Mary & Joseph, we cannot be so easily swayed, for God’s plan and trajectory for your life and mine is radically different than the world’s.


May these two individuals not remain simply ceramic figurines in a mantle nativity scene. Instead, in this next week, pause and reflect on their humanness, on their listening ears and obedience to God. Let them remind you to pursue more time with God and less with the world. May this Christmas set into motion a renewal of a “good and obedient heart that persists until it bears fruit.”


Thank you, Lord, for Jesus— precious baby destined to save us from ourselves. Please renew all of us who hear your words and receive them with faith. Let us turn our eyes to you, instead of to the distractions of each day. May we bless others because of knowing you! Amen.