I know you’ve experienced it – been on your cell with someone, telling them something that is really important to you and you realize they aren’t listening. When that happens, I’ve been tempted to say, “I was just stepped on by a huge green elephant” to which I know their reply would be something like “Oh really, that’s nice”.
Yep, they’re not listening!
When the kids were little and we wanted them to pay attention to what we were saying we would tell them to “get your catchers on”. That meant we are about to say something you really need to listen to so catch every word.
Listening doesn’t mean giving answers or advice, it means listening.
“Listen to your teacher and learn all you can.” Proverbs 23:11 ERV
“Open your heart to teaching, and your ears to words of much learning.” Verse 11 NLV
“Listen to instruction and do your best to learn.” Verse 11 CEV
Three different translations saying the same thing – Listen!
Then there was this verse:
“So listen, my son, and be wise. Always be careful to follow the right path.” Proverbs 23:19 ERV
You see that? Solomon was making sure we had our catchers on. Jesus did the same thing with his teaching. He gave his followers a head’s up during his sermons. It went something like this:
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 KJV
Repeating the phrase verily, verily was not wasted words, it was spoken for emphasis, and it meant I am telling you a great truth, listen up, pay attention. As you read through the Bible look for these clues. It’s ALL important and we can learn something from each Scripture we read but take to heart when the writer says listen.
There’s a difference between hearing and listening.
“Hearing is simply the act of perceiving sound by the ear. If you are not hearing-impaired, hearing simply happens. Listening, however, is something you consciously choose to do. Listening requires concentration so that your brain processes meaning from words and sentences.” University of Minnesota, Duluth
“Listen to and obey (hearken diligently) all the Laws I am telling you today. Love the Lord your God. Work for Him with all your heart and soul. If you do, 14 He will give the rain for your land at the right times, the early and late rain. So you may gather in your grain, your new wine and your oil. 15 He will give grass in your fields for your cattle. And you will eat and be filled. 16 Be careful not to let your hearts be fooled so you turn away and work for other gods and worship them.” Deuteronomy 11:13-16 NLV
God promises to bring blessings into our lives when we “hearken diligently” to His word. He has so many good things for us, we need to listen. What you are reading is really God talking to you. Are you listening?
Get your catchers on!