There is a huge difference between hearing and listening. How many times do we hear people talking but don’t really listen to what they are saying? Our children hear when we tell them not to do things that might harm them, but too often they fail to listen and wind up getting hurt. How many times do we, as God’s children, fail to listen when He tries to guide us in the right direction? When His words come to us through our thoughts, (which no one else can hear) directed right at us, His voice is quiet…. but always heard. Too many times His words are ignored or get lost in the noise of the world around us and we, His children, wind up getting hurt.
Sometimes His words come as a warning such as: Don’t do that! Leave that alone. Check the baby. Call him now! He might urge us to do something we find uncomfortable such as saying we’re sorry when we’ve treated someone badly or spoken out in anger. What about the other person, we ask. Why don’t they apologize to me? For all I know, He might be telling them the same thing, but right now His words are directed at me so it is my responsibility to listen.
In John 21: 15-22 we read about the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after He had risen. He told them where to fish, then prepared a meal for them. After they had eaten, Jesus asked Peter, “Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me more than these?”
Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” Then, He asked a second time, “Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me?”
Peter again answered, ” Yes, Lord, you know I love you.”
Again Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” For the third time, He asked, “Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me?”
By this time Peter was getting uncomfortable with the question and no doubt remembering that not long ago he had denied knowing Jesus three times. He answered the same way again…. and once again Jesus told him, “Feed my sheep.” In verse 19, He tells Peter, “Follow me.”
Peter looked then and saw one of the other disciples following them. Wanting to change the subject, he asked Jesus, “Lord, and what shall this man do?”
Jesus told him, “If I allow him to live till I return, what is that to you? You, follow me.”
When the Lord is dealing with us, He wants us to listen and not to concern ourselves with what those around us are being asked to do. He has a plan for each of us and it is our job to follow whatever direction He leads us in order for that plan to happen. When we worry about what others are doing or not doing we get distracted which delights the devil and makes our job much harder.
Basically Jesus was giving Peter the task of taking care of His followers. The Shepherd was turning over His flock to one He trusted to carry on in His place. These were big shoes to fill and Peter no doubt felt unworthy. However, he did take charge and saw the church through many trials, doing all things through and giving all the glory to Jesus. Peter has been referred to as the disciple most of us can readily relate to. He questioned, doubted, argued and had to be reprimanded just as we do in our walk with the Lord. In other words, he was not perfect, but He never stopped trying and learned to listen.
In 1 Peter 5: 1 Peter spoke to the elders calling himself an “elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.”
The church today is in need of being fed the truth….as well as faithful followers who will not just hear the words of Jesus, but will listen and obey His directions. Peter instructs us in verse 6 to “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God… 7 Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.”
May we all learn to listen when He speaks to us and take on whatever job He gives us with humility and honor for, as Peter said in verse 10, “the God of all grace, who has called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen and settle you. 11 To him be the glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
