[Joel's Lessons] Unplug Those Ears! (Jun 3)

[Joel Warren]

The other day, I was riding downthe trail.  It wasn’t very busy, but Idid pass several people.  As I approachedone woman from behind, I rang my bell. Then I rang again and again.  Ieven called out my intentions to pass.  Islowed way down because there was no response or acknowledgement at all.  As I slowly crept by, the lady jumped out ofher skin: “Oh my!”  I had to laugh laterbecause there are always people posting on the trail’s Facebook page complainingabout how some bicyclists or runners won’t return a greeting or complainingabout how some of the “racers” will fly past you without ringing a bell orcalling out to get your attention.  Theseposts now make sense to me: it apparently isn’t that people aren’t saying hi,ringing their bells, or calling out to people; it’s just that some of thewalkers are deaf or plugging their ears! Over the past few weeks, it seems like quite a few people that I’ve passedare surprised or startled by my presence. I ring my bell, I call out to announce my presence, my allergies make mecough or clear my throat, etc.  Butpeople just don’t hear.  I think theyjust don’t pay attention.

But it got me to thinking.  People say they listen and complain thatpeople don’t speak to them when, in fact, they’re not really listening atall.  How often do we say that we areseeking God and listening for His voice, but we don’t hear Him because we’renot really listening?  We ask forguidance.  We want to know His will.  We want to respond to what He’s going to tellus: perhaps pointing out areas of sin in our hearts or showing us where we canserve Him better.  But we don’t hear Hisvoice.  We blame it on Him: He’s notspeaking, He’s showing us the way, or He’s not answering prayer.

You’ve got your earsplugged!  YOU are the one ignoringGod!  YOU are the one that is listeningto something else instead!  YOU are theone that isn’t listening!

Rev 2:5-7  Remember thereforefrom whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I willcome unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place,except thou repent.  (6)  But this thou hast, that thou hatest thedeeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (7)  He that hath an ear, let himhear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will Igive to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Act 7:54-59  When they heardthese things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with theirteeth.  (55)  But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, lookedup steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on theright hand of God,  (56)  And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened,and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.  (57) Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ranupon him with one accord,  (58)  And cast him out of the city, and stoned him:and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name wasSaul.  (59)  And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God,and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Zec 7:9-13  Thus speaketh theLORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassionsevery man to his brother:  (10)  And oppress not the widow, nor thefatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evilagainst his brother in your heart. (11)  But they refused to hearken,and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should nothear.  (12)  Yea, they made their hearts as an adamantstone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hostshath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrathfrom the LORD of hosts.  (13)  Therefore it is come to pass, that as hecried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith theLORD of hosts:

Unplug those ears!

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Posted By Joel Warren to Joel's Lessons at 6/03/2012 01:00:00 PM