Listen Carefully
I know that Mom & Dad told me many times over the years to “listen carefully” as they gave instructions about something that they thought was important. The problem came when I didn’t necessarily think it was important and I didn’t listen very well; that’s when I goofed up. I have learned to be a better listener over the years, but still there are times when someone is speaking to me that I catch myself thinking about what I’m going to say next and I don’t really listen to what they are saying.
Ezekiel was given some instructions by the Lord and the Lord prefaced the instructions with a reminder to listen. Check this out…
4 Then the man brought me through the outer north gate to the front of the Temple. As I looked, I saw the glory of the Lord filling the Temple of the Lord, and I bowed facedown on the ground. 5 The Lord said to me, “Human, pay attention. Use your eyes to see, and your ears to hear. See and hear everything I tell you about all the rules and teachings of the Temple of the Lord. Pay attention to the entrance to the Temple and to all the exits from the Temple area. 6 Then speak to those who refuse to obey. Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Stop doing all your acts that I hate, Israel! (Ezekiel 44:4-6 NCV)Listening is a skill to be learned and improved. Some people are better at it than others, but I believe it’s because they have really worked at improving their listening.
I learned a few years ago about all four listening devices that we have – two ears and two eyes! The Lord was reminding Ezekiel to use all four listening devices and help the people of Israel understand His directions for them.
I would be wise today to listen to the Lord speak things into my heart through my ears and my eyes. I should notice the “non-verbal” communication of the Lord as well as the verbal – through His Word written and preached. I should become a good listener of the Lord so that I can be a good listener to others.
Pressing On! Dwayne