Listens

Proverbs says, "Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you." Pr 22:17-19 And it says, "A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke." Pr 13:1 Parents can relate to that.

Both people's eternal destiny and Christian's maturity are largely dependent upon listening. Where does faith come from? "Faith comes from hearing the message" Rom 10:17b Listening to the message of the gospel and believing it is God's chosen method of salvation. Paul speaks of the opposition he faced. He says of his opposition, "They displease God and are hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved." 1Th 2:15b-16 For "it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe." 1Cor 1:21

Children of God are to be characteristically "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" Jas 1:19 That is, to be quick to receive instruction, but slow and thoughtful to react. "Quick to listen" doesn't mean gullible. But rather to listen careful and then consider thoughtfully. For example it says, "Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge." 1Cor 14:29 When something is said, scrutinize, evaluate, interpret - considering the sense of what was said, consider the implications, develop applications, and then respond. It is a blessed state to be able to hear and see.

"Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear." Mt 13:16