by David Brenneman
"saying, ‘Go to this people and say, “You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; And you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; For the heart of this people has become dull, And with their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes; Otherwise they might see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.” ’ Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen.” Acts 28:26-28.
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ” Revelation 3:20-22.
When you look at your desires, your wants, for that matter your life as you may think you're enjoying it...does it show a life that's listening to and looking for Jesus?
Have you misplaced passions and desires that have nothing to do with why you're still here after coming to Christ for salvation, if in fact you are saved?
Jesus came to seek and save the lost in the world. Paul, by way of the Spirit of God, taught us all to take care not to get entangled in the things of this world.
He taught also of sins that so easily entangles us. Sin really doesn't have to work very hard to trip us up, to make us fall.
I'm reminded of a M*A*S*H episode where Colonel Potter learned of the unfaithfulness of his son-in-law. At first he was going to rip him for it until he remembered his own unfaithfulness decades earlier. To quote the son-in-law he knew what he was doing when he did it. He gave in to the moment and it happened.
We're as easily susceptible to sin rearing it's ugly head. We do then it begins to dull our ears and weaken our eyes from hearing and seeing the Lord Jesus.
King David and Uriah's wife Bathsheba. Most of the known world today knows of something to do with this story.
What lead up to it for King David was pride and laziness. For us it can be just as little or as much.
Satan's schemes include either loudly or softly badgering us with our failures in sin to keep us from getting back on our feet again and coming to Christ for forgiveness and restoration. So that once again we can have those eyes that see and ears that hear.
If you're struggling with hearing God or seeing Him in your life...stop. Stop and get real with yourself and God.
You can keep groping around in the darkness of this world or you can get right with Jesus again and keep Him as the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life.
We all are very capable of doing something that we regret. We're all very capable of even wrong ideas about God and the Bible, let alone things of this world.
Honestly, while intellectually I get the simple thing of a sports rivalry, I cannot in good conscience participate because the Bible says that we shouldn't be tearing down people. That Scripture...he who knows the right thing to do and does not do it sins. The passage of whatever is right, whatever is true, whatever is lovely, let your mind and heart dwell on these things. Set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. That there is a plan and purpose for all who Believe which is part of the reason that we're still here.
Do you have eyes that see and ears that hear, or have you been getting dull of sight and hearing because you're so involved in the things that are of this world?
The Cross of Jesus Christ brought choice...choice to come to Him for salvation and the choice to obey Him fully or not.
Don't look to be popular when you come to Christ. People probably will think you weird or old fashioned or an idiot or loser for your faith.
You don't need to be at a church to be saved. But you should find a Bible believing Bible preaching church to grow in Christ at. Churches don't save people. Jesus saves people. There are no denominations in Heaven. There are Christ followers in Heaven.
Do you have ears to really hear and eyes that really see what the Spirit says to the churches, let alone to you?
You choose to either tear down or build up. You choose to think about your testimony before men or you cast it aside because of your worldly actions and activities. You are the one whom Jesus will ask why you should be let into His Heaven. You, should you be a Believer will give an account of EVERY careless word or thought you've had or will have.
You will show by your life if you were an effectual listener and doer of the Word of God in Christ Jesus.
I was bullied a lot in school...and know as well what being the bully is like. People do a lot of hurt in the name of "fun".
When we embrace the world's ideas of fun and entertainment we are in danger of ruining a testimony of the work of the Spirit of God in our lives.
We need to do better at listening to the Spirit of God. Need to do better at looking for God in our lives.
The testimony of Jesus Christ in your life is more important than anything deemed good by this world.
Pray that you will have eyes that see and ears that hear what the Spirit is trying to do and teach you to do in your life.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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