I wonder what your reaction is when you get a really important phone call. For me, there are a couple that spring to mind. The response to an audition or job interview. A person you haven't heard from in yonks. An estranged family member.
I wonder how you listen, in those instances. For many it might be a case of removing all distractions - grabbing a pen and paper to jot down important info - moving to a quiet room so you can listen really carefully.
My time in Hebrews over the last couple of weeks has brought this idea to mind many times. As I consider freshly what it is to have Creator God speaking to me through his Word, I've realised that the way I listen is so often half-hearted. I wonder if it is the same for you.
The writer to the Hebrews tells us very near the end of his letter to "See that you do not refuse him who is speaking." But this comes after many warnings and pleas of the same variety - the readers are called to pay close attention (2:1), to consider Jesus (3:1), to [not] harden your heart if you hear his voice (3:15).
And it got me thinking if this wouldn't be a great way to start 2022, and I wanted to ask if you'd consider holding me to this!
Perhaps you wouldn't call yourself a Christian - do you know that God has spoken, and told you urgent things that you really need to know? Please be very careful before you refuse him who is speaking. Why not at least consider what He has said? I'd be really happy to help chat about that with you, and could give you literally a 5 minute summary of what God has told us in the Bible, so that you at least know.
But I think for many who might read this and identify as Christians - this letter is just as much for you and for me, if not more so. Are you aware of how dangerous it would be to grow cold towards listening to him speak?
Maybe these thoughts that I've had in the past might ring true for you:
"I've heard this before, I know it's true, but I can't see how it affects me."
"I don't need to hear this. But [that person] definitely does!"
"It's just so hard to understand. Maybe I'm not intellectual enough to understand the Bible."
"I really don't like how God comes across, or what he says in this part of the Bible. I'm sure there's an alternative interpretation."
I hope you can see how all of these could lead to a refusal to take God at His Word, and let it deeply work. Is it pride? Apathy? Habit?
In the year just gone, I've reflected a number of times on my own faithlessness - my amazing ability to 'know' what God says, and then simply ignore it, make light of it, or have a rather hard heart towards it - usually based on my circumstances or my feelings. How like those Israelites I can be! What about you? The author of Hebrews doesn't shy away from clear warnings to to the readers who have become "dull of hearing". It's a serious problem, and of serious threat to them finishing the race they've been called to endure through.
And let's be clear - this is about a heart attitude, isn't it. The point is not to simply load our lives with structures that will saturate us with Bible - though many of these will be really helpful and necessary . But it's a desire, an attitude of humility, of great dependence and need, of deep satisfaction.
But how might you cultivate a desire to not refuse him who is speaking?
Keep getting to know the one who is speaking! Keep looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. The book of Hebrews aims to convince the readers that Jesus is always supreme. Nowhere else, other than in Him, is true confidence found. So, as we come to know the power, majesty and beauty of the one who is 'on the other end of the phone', we'll be delighted to drop everything and to listen very carefully, because we know how great he is and how important his words are.
I'd be delighted if you'd hold me to this, this 2022. No-one has a clue what the year may hold, but one thing is for sure, we would be foolish to refuse Him who is speaking.
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