Learning to Listen

Isn't this the lesson of life? To listen. Because we must first learn to listen and hear before we can act upon it, right? This is an area of my life that is a continual growth process and probably will be for the rest of my life. Like my wife says from time to time, 'did you not hear what I just said to you?' or 'I was just talking to you, didn't you hear me?' Now usually when that question comes I like to play dumb and say something like 'No, what did you say?' when maybe I really did hear her, but just wasn't listening or maybe didn't really want to hear cause I know what my answer should be but I'm really not feeling that at the time. Come on guys and gals, you know what I am talking about. Everyone does it to others at some point in time, maybe not this specific example, but I am sure we all have pretended not to have heard someone from time to time, cause we more than likely do not want to give the answer or do what is being requested of us. I think that's fair to say.

The point is that we must become better listeners in all our relationships, with God first and foremost and then our family, friends, co-workers, and even those we may not know, we still need to become better listeners of what people are saying, verbally and non-verbally as we interact with them. Why? Because the love of God is in us and we care. God's word reminds us that we are to be know by our love. This is a love for ALL people, Christians and non-Christians alike, we are to have the love of Christ in us that longs to listen and to hear people and where they are at in life, to hear there struggles and concerns, to hear about their beliefs, to hear their questions and concerns and then love them regardless, no strings attached! This is the unconditional love of God, that the world needs to see from those of us who call ourselves Christians. This is not compromising the gospel by any means this is living out the true meaning of grace (gospel) to a world who just desperately wants to be heard and accepted.

I would like to give a shout out to my friend K.G. who so graciously took me out to breakfast this morning and who is actively engaging his faith and world around him, asking some really great questions and just trying to understand a little better this journey of faith. Press on brother, press on, God is leading and listening more than you know.