Active listening to God’s word is life changing. When God sends his command, it transforms those who recognise it and keep it. He makes his mind known through his servants who preach his word to us. It is self-defeating as God’s servants when we do not make the proclamation of God’s word a priority. It is worse when we hear it but refuse to keep it.
God’s word transforms.
Listening to the word of God preached by Jonah, the people of Nineveh drastically turned from their sins. Had Jonah steadfastly refused to preach to them, they would not have repented. “God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour, and God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened.” Listening to the word of God can save us from many troubles in life. The Psalmist says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105. The word of God guides us to the right path.
In the gospel narratives, When Jesus visited the family of Mary and Martha, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, listening to him. But Martha was not pleased. Hence, she said to him, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.”
Mary was seated at Jesus feet.
It is possible to work for God and not walk with him. We need his word in us to help us serve him better. Jesus’ response gives credence to contemplating on God’s word. While we are active, we are expected to be contemplative too. It is in contemplating the word of God that our lives can be transformed. Therefore, listening to God’s word like Mary, we are endowed with the abundance of life. The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 4:4 that, “man does not live on bread alone, but by the word that proceed from the mouth of the Lord.”
Our generation needs people who are truly hungry to listen to God’s word. We must not be too slow to preach the truth of the gospel. May God open our hearts that we may always cherish his word. Listening to God’s word, may our lives be transformed. Amen.
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