The Benefits of Listening, Not Just Hearing
Share
A tiny sparrow perched on a chair on my front porch, chirped and tweeted before happily flying away. Birds are so busy! They never stay in one place for too long. But this little sparrow called attention to the fact that I was staring out the window again instead of diligently focusing on the task at hand.
The dictionary definition of hear is “to perceive by the ear; to learn by the ear or by being told; to be informed of; to be among the audience.” It’s possible to hear without listening. The difference is obedience.
Paul and Silas were obediently listening to God, praying and singing hymns. In their obedience to listen, others had the opportunity to hear and listen. There is power in praying and worshiping the Lord out loud, not just for those who speak and sing, but for those who hear and listen as a result. Paul wrote to the Philippians:
Many thoughts enter our minds each day. We have the power to listen to the Truth and filter out the rest. Paul is reminding the recipients of the letter – as the Lord reminds us now – how important it is to choose to listen to the Truth of God. The apostle James wrote, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves” (James 1:22). When we are truly listening with willing hearts to obey God and seek His will in our lives, listening moves us to action.
No one sets out to build the foundation of their lives on things which will fail them, but the reality is there is only one firm foundation to build life upon: the Truth of God. He loved us so much, He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. And Jesus willingly sacrificed His life for us, and walked out His Father’s will on earth all the way to the cross. The benefit of listening results in salvation. And the Lord is patient, He wants every ear to hear the truth of who Jesus is, and be with Him for eternity in heaven.
More Verses about Listening
Proverbs 19:27
Romans 10:17
Matthew 18:15
Ephesians 5:19
Jeremiah 33:3
Psalm 116:1-2
Philippians 4:9
Psalm 5:3
Proverbs 19:20
Psalm 34:15
More from this author
How to Find Stability in an Unstable World
What Does It Mean for Us That God Is Worthy?
Root Your Faith in These 3 Truths about God
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/littlehenrabi
