“I saw a simple statement in a verse in Mark’s gospel the other day,” Stan commented one morning, “that clearly reflects the opposite of where I was at one point in my life. As well, it reflects where I am today.”
“Where you were and where you are?” I said. “All in one verse? What were you looking at?”
“A single verse that describes a large crowd,” Stan replied. “For way too long in my life, I was not part of that crowd, but now I am.”
“What kind of large crowd?” I asked.
“It says that the large crowd enjoyed listening to Jesus.”
“Oh,” I replied, “was there a point in your life where you didn’t enjoy listening to Jesus?”
“Gross understatement!” Stan said. “For way too long in my life, I not only didn’t enjoy listening to Jesus, I had no interest in even hearing what He had to say.”
“But now you do?”
“I do,” Stan replied. “For me, it was a gift from God. He opened me to want to spend time listening to Him. The more I listen, the more I enjoy seeing and hearing what He has for me.”
“You know,” I commented, “that sounds kind of like when Jesus described eternal life as knowing God the Father and Jesus the Son.”
“How so?” Stan asked.
“The more time people spend getting to know the Father and the Son,” I replied, “the more they will want to listen to what they have to say, and the more they listen, the more they will enjoy what they hear.”
“You could be on to something, my friend,” Stan replied with a smile.
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Bible verses to consider:
And the great crowd enjoyed listening to Him. Mark 12:37.
Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” Mark 9:7.
And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. John 17:3.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your provision of Jesus as the way to spend eternity in your presence when it’s time. Thank you, too, for the eternal life of knowing Him and you in an ever-deepening way while you keep me on this side of eternity. I confess that too often I have not enjoyed and I do not enjoy listening to what you have to say to me. Please forgive the foolishness of not wanting to listen to you, to Jesus, and to the Holy Spirit. Please, Father, help me in following every step of your lead so I not only want to listen, but I will truly enjoy what you have for me to hear and I will apply it to every aspect of this life you have given me to live. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you come to enjoy what Jesus has to say in the sense that you have accepted it and know you will spend eternity in God’s presence when it’s time? If no, why? What’s not to enjoy? Do you think you will enjoy being separated from God for all of eternity? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with enjoying all God has to show you and to say to you on this side of eternity? If you sense the need for change in how you enjoy God’s word and voice, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 