THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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The children of an elderly couple threw a golden wedding anniversary party for them. The couple was seated in the center of the room, and all the guests were gathered around them.
Dad was particularly moved by the occasion and wanted to tell Mom just how he felt about her. He turned to his wife and said, "Honey, after fifty years, I have found you tried and true."
But Mom had grown a little hard of hearing in the last years, and she misunderstood. Her answer came back quickly, "Well, after fifty years, I'm TIRED OF YOU TOO!"
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1 Sam 15:22
22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
(KJV)
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When we get older, we develop physical deficiencies, like hardened ear bones, which lessen our hearing abilities. This causes much misunderstanding in the world around us.
Spiritually, we develop hearing deficiencies when we center our lives around our own desires. All of us, without exception, would admit there have been several times we have failed to follow God's will in our lives because we weren't hearing what He said.
The word "hearken" means to "prick up the ears," or to listen with intent to do. In the book of Deuteronomy, the words "observe to do" appear twenty-six times. The purpose of those words are to encourage us to LISTEN to God's Word and be OBEDIENT.
Samuel told Saul that obedience is better than sacrifice. Of all the things that we might choose to do for the Lord, obeying His Word is the most important!
What does God say we are to do about:
our conversation? our physical appearance?
our personal friendships? our partnerships?
our attendance? our giving?
our ministry to others?
Our Lord addresses all of these subjects, and many many more in His Word.
The most important thing we can do is hearken -- listen with the intent to obey!
Love ya,
Bruce
mcge3582@bellsouth.net
http://www.linktojesus.org/
Some minds are similar to concrete: thoroughly mixed, and permanently set.