Tuesday, November 6, 2007 “Listen, O Israel!”
“You wish to see; Listen. Hearing is a step toward Vision.” St. Bernard
I was “watching” TV, when my young daughter came into the room and sat on my lap. She proceeded to tell me something about her life and her dolls. I offered the occasional, “un hun” and kept “watching” TV. After a while, she took her small precious hands and grabbed both of my cheeks and turned my face towards her and said, “Daddy, look at me when I am talking to you.” Ouch, sounds like she is learning from her mother real well.
Seriously, when it comes to multitasking in today’s world, don’t be guilty of multitasking with God. It is important that we pay attention to Him when He talks in His word. We must be alert to events happening in our lives where His hand is at work. When we pray—take time to listen and allow God to shape your mind to His will.
In our passage from yesterday, Jesus tells us of the important commandment for us. But before He shares that commandment He prefaces it with the mini command, “Listen”. God is a jealous God. He does not want to share our allegiance with any other god, person or institution. He wants all of us. Within this mini command to listen is a directive for us to pay attention now—look at God while He speaks, for what He is about to say—has eternal consequences.
After all, God promises in His word to listen while we speak to Him, should we be listening as He speaks to us. So church—listen up. Listen up and let God speak today.
Prayer Points for the day
1. Praise God for His mercy and kindness.
2. Thank God for listening to you in your prayers today.
3. Take a moment after reading His word and listen. What is He saying to you today? Trust your heart with actions of love for others.
Psalms 116:1-2 (NLT)
1 I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy.
2 Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!
