Listen To Him

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to him.”  Matthew 17:5

In the first half of chapter 17 in Matthew’s Gospel we read the magnificent story of the Transfiguration.  You would think that after seeing something as indescribably amazing as the Transfiguration, Peter, James and John would never doubt or struggle with trusting the will of God again. I mean really, after seeing what they had just seen how could they ever doubt, question or stray from God again. But in his infinite wisdom I think God knew they would because they were human so as if the events of the day hadn’t been powerful enough, he included a simple and precise verbal statement, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”  The key phrase is at the end…listen to him. I don’t know about you but I sure could use that reminder every now and again.

I had a professor in college one time that handed out a test.  It was the standard fill in the bubble test that we had seen dozens of times before.  As the question and answer sheets circulated around the room he strongly advised waiting until he had finished making announcements and giving directions before beginning.  I’m a people pleaser so I sat there listening to him ramble on as I watched everyone around me quickly reading and filling in bubbles.  I was just about ready to tune him out and get started when I heard him quietly say, if you’re still listening to my voice, put down your pencil, don’t say a word and in five minutes bring your test forward, you will receive a perfect score on today’s exam. I thought a perfect exam score was awesome but as I read this passage from Matthew, I realized what I could gain from listening to HIM would most certainly blow that right out of the water!

God demonstrates his power and presence in our lives all the time but in our weakness; we often don’t listen to him. Sometimes it’s as if God’s grand workings in our lives make us feel entitled to float along with independent holiness instead of falling to our knees in thanksgiving and submission.  I’m famous for taking the “holy glow feeling” that comes from identifying God’s handiwork and using it to plug along on my own instead of truly listening to him.  I have to remember to listen and look for Jesus all the time;  in times of blessing as well as times of struggle.  He knows what’s best, he knows what’s right, and even when I’m in the middle of a hissy fit determined to do it my own way, he just patiently waits for me to listen and do it his way!

A Seed To Plant: When do I find it most difficult to “listen to him?” Father of wisdom, show me where I need to listen and guide me to live my life like I’ve heard your voice.

Blessings on your day!