“Tell me,” Samuel said. “Does the Lord really want sacrifices and offerings? No! He doesn't want your sacrifices. He wants you to obey him." 1 Samuel 15:22
Consider this……Doing a gesture out of love allows the ability of your gift to grow stronger in them…. than in you.
So many times we ignore that still small voice that speaks to us when we're being asked to do something….hear me now…not told to do.... but asked to do…there’s a difference…. If a word is spoken; are we hearing or are we just listening?
Hearing is simply the act of perceiving sound by the ear. If you are not hearing-impaired, hearing simply happens. Listening, however, is something you consciously choose to do. Listening requires concentration so that your brain processes meaning from words and sentences; listening leads to understanding. And sometimes that in itself can be challenging at least for me...be honest!!
Most people tend to be "hard of listening" rather than "hard of hearing." A good question to ask yourself; How are you hearing so that you can listen?
We were given two ears but only one mouth, because listening is twice as hard as talking. Listening is an absolute necessary skill that reaches our hearts.
Many time’s I have missed the listening part of hearing and failed to be obedient...however I believe we all at one time or another are given many chances to redeem ourselves, so to speak.
Listening to God requires a deliberate choice to shut out the chaos around us and focus on our thoughts, no matter where we maybe in life or in a situation, on Him.
Sometime ago I was in the check out line at my local grocery store and in front of me was a young woman with her small children and as the checker pass each item through the scanner I observed this woman keeping an eye on the dollar amount that was questionable she would then interrupt the checker and quietly ask..." could you please remove that item and continue?"Her children seeing this, spoke up in a voice where she could hear them...”Mommy we need those items!” She simply answered again softly…. “its ok we'll get it next time”, as not to bring any further commotion.
She wasn't speaking in a loud obnoxious voice to gain attention in fact it was about as low as a whisper could be; yet with my supersonic ears… I could hear. Oh I tried to look busy while thumbing through a magazine… looking at the candy bars on one shelf and at all the gum on the other, however I kept a watchful eye on her.
After it was all said and done in that listening moment I felt a nudge in my heart to pay for her remaining items. You ask, why didn't I just pay for the items while she was still in the store…simply put, that was not God’s intentions!
I believe He wanted to see if I was hearing or listening! Immediately after the woman left, I told the checker please ring up her remaining order..quickly.. and send the box person out to give her her food she had forgotten. When the box boy came back in, he said she was surprised and told him, "I didn't pay for these".... and he answered her "I know but someone already paid the price, for you!!"
You see it’s was all about the listening and hearing..not about who did what for whom!!
Whether it’s paying it forward…..at a drive~thru…cleaning someone’s home unexpectedly…. taking out the neighbors garbage cans …making dinner for someone …or even baking a cake….it doesn't always have to be monetary things…..it’s all about… the difference between listening and hearing….and above all the motive of our hearts.... oh that Christ may be revealed.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4
He is much more interested in your listening to Him than in your offering the fat of rams....Obedience is better than sacrifice. 1 Samuel 15:22
Will you be a carrier of His presence? Remember it’s not just about the hearing …but it’s also in the listening... as well.
Thanks for stopping by “Today’s Word of Purpose”..and remember to keep Him close to your heart!!
Love Deb
