“Listen to Him!”
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
(Matthew 17:1-5; NIV. Please read Matthew 17-18 … maybe a couple of times.)
Three words that summarize the entire scope of Christianity: “Listen to Him”.
Three words that summarize the ending and beginning of the Covenants: “Listen to Him”.
Three words that summarize the will of God for all men: “Listen to Him”.
Three words that summarize the commitment of every disciple: “Listen to Him”.
Three words that summarize the agenda of my life: “Listen to Him”.
But once I get through with all of my ”summarizing” … my theological positioning … and my spiritual posturing … I should “listen to Him“.
ON SECOND THOUGHT: Many years ago I was teaching a lady in Ohio about Jesus. After we finished talking about the “good news” that Jesus can … she told me that she believed that Jesus was the Son of God. I asked her … “What is the one thing that God wants you to do … now that you believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” She read this verse (actually the same verse in Mark 9:7); and answered with those three words, “Listen to Him.” She finished answering my question with this thought: “If I only knew what He wanted me to do.” Well, you know how that story ended. She listened to Jesus. I got to be the hands for Jesus that buried her in baptism and to raise her by His power into that new life. God bless you, Mickey … keep listening.
July 22, 2008 at 12:17 pm
I seem to spend more time talking about “him”, rather than listening to him and his words. Guess thats a common preacher’s struggle.
Praying……………….
July 22, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Simple but not always easy right? Listening seems to have been a problem of mine since day 1. I’m sure my mother would agree. I get so distracted by any little thing that I will miss what someone is saying. I’ve done that with Jesus for sure.
That two ears and one mouth analogy holds true … listen more, talk less. If I will listen to Jesus I will know what to do. If I will listen to Jesus I will know what He wants. If I will listen to Jesus I will have a different heart for others.
I have listened to others that have led me down some treacherous paths. I’ve ignored some that tried to get me back on track. I finally realized that the only One that really holds all of the answers is Jesus. Now I know Who to listen to … I need to do it.
July 22, 2008 at 9:04 pm
I think that I would have said (in the earlier part of my life) “I want to listen to Jesus.but I just don’t understand what He is trying to tell me!” The problem was I was spending too much time listening to what people were saying that Jesus was saying instead of listening to HIM. Can you make any sense of that?
He is the one and only Son. He is the one and only Savior. God has told me…you want to know what to do?? Listen to Jesus. I can listen to Him…by living like He lived. By seeking the bruised and broken, binding their wounds and leading them to the Bread of Life..to the Living Water.
I made such a mess of my life when my prideful self refused to listen to Him. I do not want that life again. I want to live the way He wants me to live. I want to listen to Him.