Earless

Mark 4:23– If any man has ears to hear, let him hear (KJV).

“You aren’t listening,” said hubby.  “Yes I am,”I responded, though my nose was stuck in a book.

“No, you aren’t,”he repeated, “because if you were, you wouldn’t have just agreed to walk barefoot in mud with me tonight in the Sahara Desert!”  I was caught out.

John 18:10a– Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear (NIV).

Like Simon Peter’s victim, my ear was present, but it wasn’t really hearing. I thought about other times when this was true. Too ‘busy’to keep an afternoon at the park promised to little ones, listening to the pastor’s sermons with another’s disobedience in mind, or reading scripture, knowing that it required action, and yet ignoring it.

Oh, yes, real listening demands action. With God’s help, we can change. Let’s start by really listening, but more importantly, taking action on what we have heard.

Prayer: Oh, God, thanks for hearing us when we call. Help us to listen when you speak to us. Even more, Lord, help us to listen and obey when your voice is in our ear. In Jesus’ name. Amen.