Don’t Just Hear Him — Heed Him!

Don’t Just Hear Him — Heed Him!  ALICIA BRUXVOORT “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.” James 1:22-24 (NLT) I heard the hum of her sing-song chatter as I carried my laundry basket down the hallway. So, when I passed her bedroom, I paused at the door to watch her carefree play. My 4-year-old sat cross-legged on the carpet with a Barbie doll in one hand and a plastic pony in the other. She waved her hands to the beat of the song she was singing and turned those lifeless toys into leaping dancers. I watched my daughter’s imagination spill across the canvas of her bedroom floor until the pink backpack hanging on the doorknob reminded me that soon, I’d need to take my playful one to preschool. I knocked on her door and walked across the room to announce it was time to clean up her toys. But before I could say a word, my girl puckered her lips into a reluctant pout and covered her ears with both hands. “What are you doing?” I asked as I swallowed a giggle and stared at my daughter’s ridiculous pose. “I’m covering up my listeners,” she replied. “I can see that,” I acknowledged. “But why?” “Because if I don’t hear what you say, I won’t have to obey,” my daughter replied with total sincerity. I was about to respond with a reprimand when I realized that this childish charade might be a reason for celebration. It proved she was beginning to understand that listening and obedience go hand-in-hand. That’s a precept I’d been diligently trying to teach our young children — “Listen and obey,” I would say when I asked my son to put on his socks and shoes before he headed outside to play. “Listen and obey,” I would prompt when I told my daughter to wash her hands before dinner. “Listen and obey,” I would encourage when I reminded sleepy ones to brush their teeth before climbing into bed. You see, at that tender time in their development, I didn’t want my children to merely receive my instruction; I wanted them to respond to it as well. Looking back, I realize my parenting motto wasn’t just a wisp of wisdom for preschoolers; it was an echo of God’s expectation for all of us. Throughout Scripture, God makes it clear He doesn’t just want us to hear Him and His Word. He wants us to heed it too. James 1:22-24 puts it like this: “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.” Though I’ve never read my Bible and promptly covered my ears like my 4-year-old did, I’ve certainly closed my Bible and failed to follow God’s instructions. I’ve heard God command me to forgive, yet I’ve harbored bitterness in my heart. I’ve heard Him whisper, Go, yet I’ve stayed in my comfortable corner. I’ve heard Him urge, Believe, yet I’ve doubted and worried. Maybe, like me, you have struggled to be both a hearer and a doer of the Word. May I share a simple habit that’s helping me? When I finish reading the Scriptures — whether a few verses or a few chapters — I pause and pray, Lord, show me how to obey this specific Word You’ve given me. Then, when God reveals my next step, I accept the challenge and do what my little girl did on that day long ago … I humbly ask my heavenly Father for help to follow through. Eventually, my daughter unfurled her fingers and exchanged her pout for a subtle smile. Then, with an apologetic shrug, she said, “I want to listen and obey, Mommy … but I’ll probably need your help.” I nodded and dropped to my knees. And, together, we put those dancing toys away. Dear Jesus, forgive me for all the times I’ve heard Your Word but failed to heed it. Help me as I seek to listen and obey. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. TRUTH FOR TODAY: Mark 9:7, “Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, ‘This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him and obey Him!’” (AMP)

A Prayer to Find Your Path

A Prayer to Find Your Path
by Meg Bucher

“All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” 1 Corinthians 12:11,NIV

“Why are you cutting pizza with scissors?!”

My dad is always amused by the things I find to cut with my kitchen scissors. There are so many pairs of scissors lying around the house. Training scissors that don’t have real blades, craft scissors that cut pretty designs, fabric scissors that cut cloth smoothy, kids scissors, utility scissors, kitchen scissors, hair-cutting scissors … who’d have thought there would be so many different uses for one basic object?

Today’s verse shows us how God does so much through each of us. Each person has similar attributes and functions… even talents… but each person's purpose is unique to them.

If I use craft scissors to cut hair, it will look ridiculous. If I use fabric scissors to cut paper, it will ruin their sharp, smooth edge. And training scissors will not cut the fat off of tonight’s chicken as it thaws. Each pair is specifically purposed, and if used outside of that, not nearly as effective.

Jesus died for us to find our purpose. He is the only way to the Father. And the Father holds our perfectly crafted purpose in His capable hands. Through acceptance of Jesus, we receive the Spirit, who guides us “individually.” Our path is our path. No one else’s. We can try to fit into other people’s maps, but it won’t look good. True happiness comes in embracing our purpose. When we find the path we were meant to walk, we won’t feel lost anymore.

Father, Praise You for creating each person differently. Thank You for sending Your Spirit to guide us onto the paths You have planned for our lives. We confess the times we ignore the sacrifice of Your Son, and try to control our lives the way we think they should be run. Bless us to let go, and follow You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.