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Take Care How You Listen!


“The hidden things belong to the Lord our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29).
       There is a warning Jesus Christ gave His disciples that we at this present time must not lose sight of. After explaining the meaning of a parable He had just taught them and the public, He said: “For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and come to light. Therefore take care how you listen…” (Luke 8:17-18a). So many at this time are not listening! This is evident in the chaos witnessed in the society, from government to the home front. Things and decisions that are clearly discerned are sounding as if they are from another planet. Certain decisions taken and you wonder if the person while taking it at the time was sane to begin with. We are living in a time that Wisdom is clearly shouting from the street corners but sadly, the voice of foolishness and irresponsibility is louder! 
       Beloved, hearing has to do with the ability to physically hear sounds but listening comes from the heart and entails one understanding what had been heard and applying it. This takes pondering and meditating on what had been heard. No wonder so many acquire more and more knowledge, yet they are bankrupt in their relationships, especially with their Creator. The evidences are before them but they are unable to discern it because they had not taken it to heart (to listen with understanding by pondering and meditating). So many know the right words to speak and the right actions to take but fail to say or do them. The truth is, whatever it is you are doing or saying per time is what you had taken to heart: “…For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart” (Matthew 12:34b). Therefore, there is a need for us at this time, as we await the return of the Lord, to take care how we listen. Our inability to listen or listen properly will cost us to see and understand what the Lord is saying concerning our lives, the Church and our nation. 
       In the days of Noah, the people failed to ‘see’ the signs. Noah may have seemed like a mad man building an ark, but when they started seeing animals of all kinds, tame and wild all entering the ark in twos, this should have been a wake-up call. Yet, they didn’t ‘see’ it because they were not listening! Beloved, God is speaking on a daily basis, particularly about the situation you are in, can you hear Him and are you listening? You may claim it is hard and difficult to stop or to turn around from what you are doing. No problem! He’s got you! God saw this and He warned us so that we would be able to stand by living in Him: “But know this: difficult times will come in the last days” (2Timothy 3:1) and “The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). 
       Beloved, that which is dark, insurmountable, confusing about your life, the Church and even the Nation is and can be resolved in Him. He shouts out the answers but many are deaf because it is not what they want to hear. Please Don’t Be! Why is the Lord Jesus Christ particular about us listening and listening right? “Jesus answered ‘Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error]. For many will come in My name [misusing it, and appropriating the strength of the name which belongs to Me] saying, ‘I am the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)’ and they will mislead many’” (Matthew 24:4-5, AMP). When you truly listen, you will be able to discern the voice of the Lord from those masquerading as Him. Beloved, that which you have heard of Him (He is the All in all), meditate and ponder on like the Berean Christians. Then apply what you have learnt to your life so that you are not swept away by the wind of deceit that is currently blowing on the earth: “As you have therefore received Christ (even) Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him” (Colossians 2:6, AMP). God bless you as you take time out to truly LISTEN to Him.

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