In what ways can we seek to be "one who hears the words"? A Word Worth Building On “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24) Why Hearing Matters • Jesus pins wisdom—and safety—on the simple act of listening and responding. • Romans 10:17 reminds us, “So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Faith is born, grows, and endures through attentive ears. • Luke 11:28 echoes the blessing: “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Cultivating a Hearing Heart • Choose stillness. Elijah met God in a “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12). Carve out quiet, phone-free moments for Scripture. • Ask the Spirit to open the ears of your heart (John 16:13). He authored the Word; He alone tunes us to it. • Approach with expectancy. Psalm 119:18: “Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things from Your law.” Daily Practices That Sharpen Spiritual Hearing • Read aloud. Hearing your own voice slows you down and lets phrases sink deep (Revelation 1:3). • Journal impressions and commands you notice. Writing seals what the ear catches (Deuteronomy 17:18-19). • Memorize strategically—verses that speak to current battles (Psalm 119:11). Repetition engraves truth into the mind’s ear. • Listen to audio Bibles while driving or exercising; let Scripture redeem routine minutes (Deuteronomy 6:7). • Sing the Word. Colossians 3:16 links “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” with letting “the word of Christ dwell richly” in us. Obedience: The Litmus Test of True Hearing • James 1:22-25 warns against “hearing only.” Put at least one specific directive from each reading into action that day. • Keep short accounts with sin (Psalm 66:18). Unconfessed sin muffles clarity. • Align decisions—large and small—with revealed truth (John 14:23). Hearing grows sharper when life conforms to what we hear. Community Amplifies the Word • Faithful preaching and teaching supply perspectives we’d miss alone (Ephesians 4:11-13). • Discuss passages over meals or small groups; iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17). • Submit to loving correction when brothers or sisters point you back to Scripture (Hebrews 3:13). Guarding the Ear Gate • Evaluate media intake. Competing voices either drown or distort Scripture’s frequency (Philippians 4:8). • Reject cynicism; it hardens hearing (Hebrews 3:15). Keep a tender, teachable spirit. • Flee habitual noise—constant headlines, endless music, background TV. Give God room to speak. A Life Built on Rock When the rains fall—and they will—the house stands or collapses based on one factor: did we truly hear and act on Christ’s words? By cultivating quiet, practicing daily listening habits, obeying promptly, engaging community, and guarding our ears, we become the one who hears the words—and stands unshaken. |
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