1 Samuel 1-3
When’s the last time you listened?
No, I mean really listened…
You can tell a good listener by a few things. I find they give you all their attention when you talk to them. I find they make eye contact with you. Most of all, a good listener gives you their time. You don’t feel like they’re in a rush to get away.
So I ask again, when is the last time you listened? Really listened…
And in this case, I don’t even mean to each other, though that is obviously important. I mean God.
When is the last time you took time out, gave him all your attention or looked at him eye-to-eye in prayer or in the Bible? When is the last time you really gave God some proper time? When is the last time you weren’t in a rush to do something else?
How can we expect to know what God is saying if we don’t listen? I mean, really listen…
I’m shocking at not stopping, and thinking about what I’m doing next in the day, but Samuel isn’t. He listens. He gets it wrong at first, but he keeps listening. He then realises who it is, and can act.
Listening is an underrated art. But it needs our time and attention.
So I encourage you to shhhhh this week and see what happens…I’m going to try anyway…
Alex
4 Responses to “Day 31 – Shhhh…Listen”
Brian
Hey, I know this is yesterdays blog, but I wanted to put it to the test myself. So this morning after I woke up, I didnt put any music on, which I usually do in the morning, it helps me get over the tiredness.
But anyway, yeah I listened today, while eating my Corn Flakes and my cuppa.
I dont really know how to explain it, it was quite a weird feeling, just listening. But I felt refreshed, calm and ready to take on the day.
I was quite sceptical when I first did it, but I am glad now I did.
Just thought I would share that with you all. I look forward to doing it for the rest of the week as well
Brian
Alex
good on you Brian!
i agree it’s a completely weird feeling altogether; but it’s worth it if you have the patience. the problem is we’re just so used to noise.
Aisling
Just reading over this again in E100, any else totally disagree with the ‘overly tolerant father’ part? I was brought up in a non-Christian, very laid back, do-what-you-want kinda household. I dont think I’ve turned out too badly? It’s kinda frustrating me..
michael
I remember being told that the most important thing when reading the Bible was context, context, context!!
So let me just look at the context in this passage.
We have Eli and this sons. Eli is a priest for Israel (the people of God – that is the people God choose to work through so that the world would know His name!!)
Eli’s sons are next in line to be priests and they are ‘scoundrels’ not following the way God has told them to lead. They are creating injustice in their community for their own benefit.
so………….let me try and bring this context into the 21st century.
Eli was a priest for Israel. His sons were due to follow him and be priests too, but he had not taught them to follow God.
Eli was a leader of the people of God. His sons were due to follow him into leadership, but he had not taught them to follow God.
I think this passage is less about parental ability and more about leadership of the people of God (In other words, the Church!!)
2 points I take from it:
a) Leaders of the Church need to teach and mentor the generation below them so that they will be fully equipped to follow God’s will, for the future of the church. (See 2 Timothy 3:16; Psalm 145:4)
b) The current leaders of the Church need to act in such a way that brings justice to their community. They need to follow God’s ways and be servant leaders!! Basically just the opposite of Eli’s sons. (See 1 Timothy 3:16; Titus 1:9)
I do not particularly think this passage is about the bringing up of children, I think it is about the bringing up of leaders.
Hope that helps you Aisling.
P.S. You didn’t turn out that badly!! Your alright like…