In what ways can we remain open to God's message today? The Challenge Ezekiel Exposes “ But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you, because they are not willing to listen to Me. Indeed, the whole house of Israel is hard-headed and hard-hearted.” (Ezekiel 3:7) Stubbornness blocked God’s voice then; it can still block it now. The verse warns that a closed heart toward God’s messenger is really resistance to God Himself. Recognizing the Marks of a Closed Heart • Hard-headed – unwilling to consider that God may be speaking • Hard-hearted – emotions numbed toward the Lord and His people • Selective hearing – accepting what affirms personal preferences, rejecting what confronts sin • Prideful confidence – trusting one’s own opinions above Scripture Cultivating a Listening Heart • Yielded mind – consciously surrender preconceived ideas when reading Scripture • Soft spirit – invite the Spirit to search motives (Psalm 139:23-24) • Quick repentance – respond immediately when the Word exposes disobedience • Humble posture – “Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10) Practical Ways to Stay Open Daily engagement • Read or listen to Scripture aloud so both eyes and ears receive truth • Memorize verses that confront areas where you tend to resist (James 1:21) Prayerful listening • After reading, sit in silence, asking, “Lord, what are You saying to me through this text?” • Record insights in a journal; obedience is easier when convictions are concrete Accountability • Share what God is teaching you with a trusted believer; invite correction (Proverbs 27:17) • Gather with believers whose first question is, “What does the Bible say?” Obedient follow-through • Apply at least one specific action drawn from each study session • Treat delayed obedience as disobedience (Luke 11:28) Scripture Echoes That Reinforce Openness • Hebrews 3:7-8 – “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” • Psalm 119:18 – “Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things from Your law.” • John 10:27 – “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” • Acts 17:11 – Bereans “received the word with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily.” • Revelation 2:7 – “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Guarding Against Modern Forms of Stubbornness • Information overload – endless data can drown out the still, small voice • Cultural pressure – society celebrates self as authority; Scripture points to Christ as Lord • Emotional fatigue – constant busyness dulls sensitivity; margin restores attentiveness • Cynicism – past hurts can lead to closing off; healing comes through honest lament and renewed trust Living It Out This Week 1. Choose one Gospel chapter; read it once each day, asking, “What command or promise must shape me today?” 2. Schedule a fifteen-minute tech-free block solely for listening in God’s presence. 3. Identify one habit that repeatedly competes with Bible intake; replace that time slot with Scripture reading. 4. Tell a friend one truth God impressed on you; invite them to ask how you’re acting on it. Remaining open is not complicated; it is costly. Yet a tender, responsive heart will always find God eager to speak and guide. |
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