“It happened again this morning,” Stan said as we were enjoying our breakfast.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Seeing that I have to be at the right place at the right time in the right state of mind in order for my faith walk to grow as God intends,” Stan replied.
“That seems pretty obvious,” I commented. “Why do you mention it?”
“Just because something’s seems to be obvious,” Stan replied, “that doesn’t mean it happens automatically. Let me tell you what I was looking at. Maybe you’ll see what I mean.”
“Okay,” I said. “What were you looking at?”
“The story in Luke’s gospel about when Jesus was twelve years old,” Stan replied. “His parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. They took Jesus with them.”
“Is that when His parents headed back home after the celebration only to discover that Jesus wasn’t with them?”
“That’s it,” Stan replied. “And when Jesus’ parents went back to Jerusalem and eventually found Him in the temple, that’s the part of the story that made an impact on me.”
“In what way?” I asked.
“It says that after three days of looking for Jesus,” he said, “they found Him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions.”
“So? What’s that have to do with you?”
“It’s what comes next,” Stan replied. “It says that all who heard Jesus were amazed at His understanding and His answers. It’s to be the same thing with me.”
“What same thing?”
“I am to be amazed with Jesus,” Stan said, “but there’s an essential first step before that can happen.”
“What first step?”
“Just like the people in the temple,” Stan replied, “they were amazed after they heard Jesus. I can’t be amazed with Him until I hear Him!”
“And you can’t hear Him,” I commented, “unless you’re where He is. Is that it?”
“That’s it,” Stan said. “It’s not going to happen unless I’m close enough to hear and to listen to what He has to say!”
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Bible verses to consider:
And it came about that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. Luke 2:46-47.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for being amazing in all you are and in all you do. Thank you for giving Jesus so all who hear Him can be amazed by what He says. I confess that too often I am not amazed by what He says because I don’t hear or listen to Him. Please forgive the foolishness of trying to live this life without listening to you, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Help me follow every step of your lead in hearing, listening, and being amazed. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you been amazed by God in the sense that you have seen, heard, and accepted His free and gracious gift of life eternally with Him? If no, why? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with being amazed at what He has to say to you? Do you agree that you have to be close enough to hear what He has to say in order to be amazed by it? If you sense the need for change in any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
To hear what Jesus said l have to be where He is. Jesus didn’t leave us alone, but He gives us His Word – through hearing His Word, is where l hear what Jesus said and l find where Jesus is. He also gives us His Holy Spirit, the Power, the Helper who helps us hear and understand what Jesus said and to be where Jesus is. His Great love for us, we don’t deserve it, so amazes us. We are in awe to contemplate His wonderful creation and works. And when we think of the Creator of the Universe, this Jesus who had humbled himself and in obedience to His Father had died on a cross as sacrifice for us and rose again. We just cannot fathom it, such great love and grace. He loves us (unconditional). Truly , He is love. In believing in Jesus, our sins are forgiven, we repent and are saved, we have eternal life. In Matthew 11:15, 16, Jesus said , “ Whoever has ears let them hear.” Jesus calls it, blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear. In obedience to Jesus we must give an ear to hear what He said. God blesses us when we hear Him. He should be the focus and centre of our lives, a life we live to lovingly serve God and others. Because of what He did, He first love us, now we can share and love others.