Week 4: Listening to the Son
Sin-clogged ears
Week 4, Day 3
My hearing was excellent. Or so I thought. While in college, I had my ears checked and the audiologist informed me that my hearing was not as stellar as I had projected. She further clarified that part of my problem was the wax buildup clogging my ear canal. Not knowing that my ears were clogged, my pride mirrored the waxy hindrance to my listening. I was so confident that my hearing was just fine that I was not open to hearing that there was any problem. The Pharisees and teachers of the law had a similar problem. And the strongest admonition or tongue-lashing that Jesus issued was to the sin-clogged ears of this group of people. Christ’s language in Matthew 23 is clear and uncompromising in His disdain for their hypocritical actions and attitudes (v. 27-28, ESV). 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Jesus sat and ate with the sinners, tax collectors, and less-reputable members of society not because they were perfect. Rather, they admitted their sinful condition and did not allow that sin to clog their listening ears. Confession is powerful as it brings sin to light and allows God to work His power of transformation in our lives.
Today’s prayer of listening comes from Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV).
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
As you pray this prayer today, imagine yourself visiting the Great Physician and asking Him to clean out your sin-clogged ears. Pretend you are Zacchaeus (Luke 19). Jesus has invited Himself over for a cup of coffee and His very presence convicts you in a loving way, inspiring you to confess and repent. Below, write out your own prayer, possibly a prayer a confession, inspired by today’s listening.
We would love to hear from you! Please share with us what you are hearing and how you are growing in your devotion to listening.
This blog post is taken from the book Called to Listen: Forty Days of Devotion. To order a copy of this book, please visit our website and invite a friend to participate in the study with you. The book includes additional guides and questions to be reviewed in a small group context weekly.