Selective Hearing

A Series on God’s Call to Ministry

1 Samuel 3:1-10

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%203%3A1-10&version=NIV;NLT

[Preface: How do you know what your calling in life is? Will you know from a big bang experience? Or will it come quietly, almost imperceptible? Will you be inspired by the stories of a visiting missionary; or a book that opens your eyes to the needs of a specific people group; or from your own life experience? This series is about God’s call to ministry for your life; what it means or doesn’t mean.]

Have you ever been accused of selective hearing?

 I have. My wife accuses me more often than I care to admit. Of course, I like to think of it as being extremely focused. The classic example is when she starts talking to me in the bedroom and then walks down the hall into the kitchen. And I’m accused of selective hearing!

There can be a lot of reasons that people don’t hear or understand a message. For one thing, we’re bombarded every day with so many messages that there’s no way to comprehend them all. But it can also have to do with not listening well, feeling insecure or lacking some foundational knowledge. The list is endless.

⁸ So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy.          NLT

It took three times for the LORD to call Samuel’s name before Eli realized who it was that was speaking to him. On the first two attempts, Samuel and Eli had their own personal reasons for not hearing the LORD.

For one thing, Samuel was just a boy so he probably lacked the maturity to recognize who was calling him. As for Eli, he had been a priest for decades, but had shown a lack of spiritual discernment in dealing with his rebellious sons. Eli was practically blind physically; maybe he was blind spiritually too.

Are you guilty of selective hearing when it comes to recognizing the LORD? 

What drowns out his voice for you? Is it being constantly busy with no quiet time to reflect and rest in His presence? Or maybe it’s an unwillingness to submit or surrender to His will. Is it possible that it’s unrepentant sin in your life?

¹⁰ The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”   NIV

Like Samuel, may we be ready to hear the LORD with a servant’s heart, listening intently for His voice.

“Just a Minute”

A Series on the Milestones in Jesus’ Life

Luke 4:14-30

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%204%3A14-30&version=NIV;NLT

 

When I was a little boy of about eight, I remember a time when I was playing with my little men. I must have had an exciting story developing because I was very involved when my Dad called me to dinner.

 

But, it wasn’t a good time for me to stop; so I said, “Just a minute”. My Dad called out to me again to come to the dinner table. Still not quite ready I said, “Just a minute”.

 

I wasn’t getting his message because playing was more important to me than the fact that my Mom had dinner prepared on the table, and they were both waiting for me. I’m not sure if my Dad called me a third time or not, but he did come over and knock all of my little men down. I was devastated! But I did get his message.

 

Jesus was bringing a message to the Jews, and had returned to Galilee. In this story, he was in Nazareth where he grew up. People there may have known him better as Joseph’s son than Jesus the rabbi. They knew him when he was a little boy getting into trouble for not coming to the dinner table.

 

At the synagogue, it’s not hard to imagine that his parents, siblings, neighbors and friends he grew up with, would have been there. Word had spread about Jesus performing miracles, and people were curious. It was a homecoming of sorts; a milestone for Jesus. And what message did Jesus have for them?

 

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”               NIV

 

The “year of the Lord’s favor” was the beginning of the Messianic age. Basically, Jesus had claimed to be the Messiah; but he didn’t stop there. He went on to remind them how when Elijah and Elisha were messengers of God’s salvation, that non-Jews received His message; not the Jews.

 

“Just a minute”, the Jews at the synagogue cried out. They didn’t like his message. They didn’t want to hear his message. And don’t we do the same thing today?

 

Aren’t there times when we hold up our hand to Jesus and say, “Just a minute. I’m not ready”? What keeps us from hearing Jesus’ message? Is it pride; rebellion; selfishness; a broken relationship; difficult life circumstances; busyness?

 

Whatever the reason, the next time you catch yourself saying to Jesus, “Just a minute”… STOP! Think about it! Listen for his still, small voice! Draw near to him. What is he trying to say to you? Figure it out; and then obey.