TODAY… We Hear

How is your hearing?
 
On the physical front, if you are like me, it isn’t as good as it was when I was younger. I can look back on my early years and I need to own up to the fact that I caused at least a portion of the deficiency in my auditory abilities. I didn’t take precautions that I should have with regard to chainsaws, lawnmowers, printing presses, fireworks and other extremely loud things that were a part of my daily life. I viewed ear protection as inconvenient, uncomfortable, claustrophobic and it just didn’t look good. Can any of you relate? Is there a spiritual life lesson here?
 
Even though my hearing is not what it once was, I am blessed to be able to hear my name spoken by my family and friends. I can wake up in the morning to the chirping of birds and the sound of the wind blowing through the trees. I can enjoy the laughter of the Bloomington Jefferson students at the table next to me at Caribou. It is nice to be able to hear!
 
Many of us take hearing for granted and we don’t do what we can to make sure our hearing continues. A number of people are deaf and “hearing” like me and most of you is not an option. I had a friend growing up named Lonnie and he was deaf. We spent many fun times together fishing, playing basketball and hanging out. Lonnie and I communicated in a “naturally modified” way that worked just fine. We heard each other with a little extra focus that didn’t really feel like “work” at all. With that in mind, how does God communicate with His people today?
 
As we continue our journey through the book of Hebrews this week, we land in the 3rd chapter. The writer of the book is calling us to listen to our God.
 
I have never audibly heard God speak, but I have “heard” Him speak to me many times through the Bible, the Church and the Spirit that lives within me. Therefore, the theme for this week is Today…We Hear.
 
I mentioned earlier that I didn’t “protect” my ears well. How do we protect our “spiritual ears” so that we hear God? In Hebrews 3 we are told to not be like the Israelites at the time of Moses.
 
7 So, as the Holy Spirit says:
“Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness…
 
12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.
 
How do we keep our hearts tender towards God? What are activities and attitudes that assist us in hearing God in our daily lives? God is not silent – Hear Him Today!
 
Listening with you,
Pastor Nick