“Can you hear me know?” “Good!”

Sunday Sermon 11.6.21

This question and response became a very popular and effective commercial for Verizon Wireless years ago.

We use our hearing 24 hours a day. Our ears are like antennae that pick up signals from all different directions. Then they process those signals and pass them on to the brain for interpretation and action. When both ears are functioning we have optimal hearing.

Hearing.

Do you think much about what you hear between those 20 and 20,000 Hz? Of course those important speech frequencies between 500 and 4,000 Hz are important, but what about the others, the whole range of things that you hear?

Even in “The Sounds of Silence”, what do you hear? (cue up Simon & Garfunkle, Disturbed or Pentatonix.) Is there really silence or are we still resonating with what has been heard?

We are cautioned in scripture, to

” Pay attention to what you hear: …”

Mark 4:24 CEV

Or as another verson clarifies,

” Be diligent to understand the meaning behind everything you hear…”

Mark 4:24 TPT

I love the urgent call to action in the Greek words used. “Pay attention” indicates, “look out, look at, see. Beware! Have sight, observe, discern and perceive” (Strongs Concordance G#991) While what you “hear”, means ” give audience to; be noised, be reported. Understand.” (Strongs Concordance G#191)

Jesus is the speaker in this setting and His warning to the disciples (aren’t we His disciples, too) is to “Beware and look out for what you pay attention to, give audience to- the noise of what is reported. Be careful what you understand.”

You see, Jesus knew the power of hearing 24 hours a day. Jesus knew the power of noises and voices bombarding us with signals every minute of the day. Jesus warned His disciples to PAY ATTENTION to what you hear. Jesus knew the importance of hearing.

I have come to believe that is why, the greatest command, (which we often state as love God and love others) actually begins with –

“HEAR, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord.”

Deuteronomy 6:4

Hear. That is the first priority.

Our ability to love God and others begins with our willingness to listen to God. How we listen to Him is reflected in how we treat others.

“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it. “

Luke 11:28 CEV

What we do and say is contingent what we hear.

“ The hearing is always found close to the speaking tongue. “

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Returning to our opening scripture – in the mix of all that we hear, ie. news reports, political outcomes, mandates, employment requirements, housing needs, a spouse or friend’s requests and complaints, doctor’s reports and never ending self talk…. PAY ATTENTION.

Are you hearing God? Can you hear His voice in the mix of your days noises? Do you recognize it, understand it, pay attention to it?

“The entrance of your words bring light.”

Psalm 119:130 NIV

When we hear and pay attention to His voice, we enjoy walking in light, clarity, and peace. Our path is illuminated and we feel a confident peace in our heart.

“Today if you hear His voice….”

Hebrews 4:7

Can you hear Him now? Good!

Go with God,

Debbie