Listening

Romans 10:17 says,  "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."  I've been told that God gave us a formula for listening by giving us two ears and only one mouth.  Thus we are meant to listen twice as much as we talk.  

That's hard in any conversation... at least for me.  I have a lot of thoughts that I like to share.  But when praying, well, it's harder isn't it?  Why is that?  Is it harder to listen because His voice is like a whisper on the wind.  It's easily missed when you are intent on being heard.  But like with anyone, we will still ache to know Him, if we never hear what He has to say.  

Scripture is the first place to hear Him.  In our times where everyone stands as judge of pretty much everyone else, it's hard not to stand as judge of what we read.  But if you are in conversation with someone and if you stand as judge... you are NOT hearing anything.  Listen, ask, clarify... wait, wait, wait for an answer that satisfies.  Faith truly comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  

Funny, think of that verse again, "Faith come from hearing, but hearing" (I'm thinking of the many times in my life time I have said, "You aren't hearing me!")  That miraculous gift of hearing comes by the very word of God himself.  The Gospel of John starts out by saying, "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the Word was God.  Jesus Himself must somehow be a part of the message going from being listened to... to being heard.

Questions

Do you ever feel like asking ridiculous questions?  Like what did Jesus do while the 12 were gone preaching?

Luke 9: 1-6  "Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.

“Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”

So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

 I wonder if He got some much needed rest?  Or was He doubly overwhelmed by people because there was no one there to hold off the crowd?  I can imagine Him just having time with His Daddy for a while.  Time to be filled and nurtured. 

There are so many questions not answered by scripture, what did Jesus enjoy?  What is His favorite color?  Did He have a favorite food?  Why does the earth only have one moon?  Why did you create people in the first place? 

I know that everything important is covered in God's word.  But there is so much not there that I can't wait to ask Jesus someday.  It amazes me that for each and every one of us, there is always room for growth and discovery.  We can never fully know Jesus. But we can discover something new every day

Just in any relationship, it takes time and communication to get to know each other.  If you want to know what pleases Jesus, ask Him!  Ask Him all your crazy questions... ask Him all your hard ones too.  Ask from a place of discovery, not from a place of judgement.  Start with this, "Jesus, I know that You are good.  I know that Your motives are pure.  But I don't understand what good there is in what just happened.  Can you show me?

Incidentally, it's a good way to talk to anyone dear to you.  Hi friend, I believe that your motives are good, but I am hurt by your actions.  Can you please help me understand?

You would be amazed at what we can learn if we don't jump to judgmental conclusions and simply ask and listen.