Luke 8:10
And He said, ‘To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’
Many of you have heard me mention a colorful old judge I worked for when I was a Juvenile Probation Officer. Ben Riordan had more stories and anecdotes than about anyone I ever met—before or since. He delighted in telling the tale of two deaf men who appeared before a deaf judge. The deaf plaintiff charged that the deaf defendant owed him $100. The defendant objected that he didn’t even own a dog, so how could it have bitten the plaintiff? The equally deaf judge peered over the bench and called both men close: “It looks like you two boys could get together and support your poor old mother. Case closed!”
Sometimes I think that we are very much like that story. We are so busy trying to justify ourselves that we fail to listen. First of all, we fail to listen to those around us, but much more important—we fail to listen to God. It is sad that we shut our ears to the very things that we should be listening to. God makes every effort to speak to us, but we fill our lives with such clutter and confusion that His voice goes unheard.
I cannot begin to count the marital counseling sessions I have had to deal with where one or both of the partners would not keep silent long enough to hear what the other was saying. I have resorted to requiring the offender to not say one single word or I will end the session. Sometimes, when they are made to be silent, they act totally shocked by what the other partner said. Some have even said, “Well, why didn’t you tell me before this?!” RIGHT!
Do you have ears to hear? You may be a born again child of God, but do you have the spiritual ears to hear as God speaks to you in that place of secret prayer. Matthew 6:6 says, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing to others!
—Pastor Cecil