Devotion for the Week...
Over the years I've been caring for toddlers, I have said "Are you listening to me?" more times than I can count. It's never because I'm questioning if they're actually hearing the words I'm saying, but because I know they're hearing me, but they're not doing whatever it is I'm telling them to do. Usually that's because I'm telling them to clean up or to stop doing something and they'd prefer to just ignore me.
Lots of times we use the word 'listening' when we mean 'obeying.' I want the kids to do what I tell them, not just listen to me and then ignore my instructions. If they're listening to me, but then not obeying, that doesn't get the results I'm looking for. And, though they don't realize it, obeying me is in their best interest, too. If it's time to clean up, that probably means it's lunch time, or there are too many toys on the floor and someone could get hurt by tripping over something.
We can easily know God feels the same way about us and the instructions He has given us. James wrote, "But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says" (James 1:22). It can't be stated much more clearly than that! What use is God's word to us if we never do anything with what we have heard? God has given us plenty of instructions for how to live a life that is pleasing to Him, but are we obeying? If not, there wasn't much point in taking the time to hear or listen to it, since it won't benefit us unless we take action on what we've learned.
Here are just a few of the commands He has given us in His word:
"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples" (John 13:34-35).
"So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:14-16).
Listening is hard but worth the effort - even if that does involve changing a mindset and/or behaviour. God certainly does know what is best for us! It can take me a long time to accept what I've heard through His word and actually make the changes though!
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