How can we ensure we are not "deaf" to God's word today? Jeremiah’s Warning: Closed Ears “ ‘To whom can I speak and give warning so that they will hear? Their ears are closed, so they cannot listen. The word of the LORD has become offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.’ ” (Jeremiah 6:10) Recognizing Spiritual Deafness • The word of the LORD feels burdensome rather than life-giving (Jeremiah 6:10). • Conviction is resisted instead of welcomed (Zechariah 7:11-12). • Correction from fellow believers is dismissed (Proverbs 15:32). • Sinful patterns are justified with human reasoning (Isaiah 5:20). • Private time in Scripture becomes rare or merely ritual (Amos 8:11). Cultivating Attentive Ears • A humble heart—“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). • A teachable spirit—“Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10). • An expectant faith—“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). • A repentant posture—“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). Practical Habits for Hearing • Daily, unhurried reading: start with a clear plan; linger on smaller sections to meditate (Psalm 119:97). • Intentional silence: remove digital noise and schedule moments to reflect on what was read (Psalm 46:10). • Scripture memory: storing God’s word safeguards against selective hearing (Psalm 119:11). • Journaling observations: writing clarifies what God is saying and guards against forgetfulness (Deuteronomy 11:18-20). • Immediate obedience: act on the light already given; light obeyed brings more light (Mark 4:24). Community and Accountability • Regular worship under sound preaching (2 Timothy 4:2). • Small-group study where believers “stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Mature mentors who can “restore gently” when blind spots appear (Galatians 6:1). • Shared testimony: hearing others’ experiences sharpens sensitivity to the Spirit (Revelation 12:11). Hearing Leads to Obedience • “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27) • “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22) • Genuine listening always moves from the ear to the heart and out through the hands and feet. The surest way to stay free from spiritual deafness is continual, wholehearted response to every word God speaks. |
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