"Can We Hear?"

  It must have stung in the mind of the Jew's that had believed Jesus. Yes, they believed Him but were still not part of Him. Jesus said they were of another father, the devil (John 8:44). Jesus spoke the words, "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word." (John 8:43) Therein lies the problem. They weren't physically deaf. They heard every sound of every word. What made them separate and apart from Jesus was they refused His word as truth! That is what happens to so many today.

  I don't hear many today seeking, looking for the truth. I hear a lot of people listening to whatever anyone speaks that sound good and reasonable in their mind but little about truth. And when we speak of truth, it is generally in a little box that we have made and tied a bow on it! That too is just as bad. We need to hear the word of truth and that comes by a willingness to listen and accept, even when it goes against your personal stance.

  If a person believes the truth and seeks the truth, they cannot or will not received anything else as truth. They will compare what they hear with what is revealed. They cannot hear anything else but truth. That's where seeking comes into play. If a person cannot hear the word of the Lord, in the context in which in was spoken and the purpose for which it was spoken, there is no way that you can make them hear. All the speaking that  you do will never persuade them to hear anything different than what they want to believe.

  We need to listen to Jesus. We need to be prayerful that when we read the word of the Lord and study His word that we are willing to hear His word. Then comes the words of Jesus to our hearts: "If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself." (John 7:17)