The Serious Sin of Not Listening
Neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land listened to the words of the LORD which He spoke through Jeremiah the prophet (Jeremiah 37:2 NASB).
The genesis for everything in our relationship with the Lord is listening. God is good and “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).But before repentance is hearing. Before salvation is hearing. Before walking in the light is hearing. It all starts there.
The Cause
Paul wrote to young Timothy reminding him of the reason people don’t listen:
Teach and preach these principles. If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing (1 Timothy 6:2-4).
It is nothing less than our pride that stops our ears. We don’t want to hear what God says because we think we know what is best for our lives.What utter arrogance! Yet it happens millions of times a day by almost everyone.Jeremiah was bringing a word of judgment to God’s people, and they just didn’t want to hear it. So they killed the messenger. They put him in prison, vainly trying to stifle the word of God.True to the word Jeremiah was bringing, the enemy came in like a flood and did exactly as God had said. When we choose to not listen, we’re on our own, which is always disastrous.
The Adjustment
If ever there was a moment in our nation when we needed to hear what God is saying, it is now. We need it personally, and we need it nationally.So, what adjustment do we need to make in our lives right now to get in a position to hear?It may be that we need to step back and review what He has already said, and begin there with repentance and fresh obedience. It surely will mean time in the Word and prayer, for the Word of God, Spirit of God, and people of God are His primary means of communication to us.Don’t chance it. Don’t go another hour committing the sin that leads to every other disastrous sin. Listen to Him.He is a merciful God whose will is good, acceptable, and perfect. But first, you must listen.