Unplug Those Ears! (Jun 3)

The other day, I was riding down the trail.  It wasn’t very busy, but I did pass several people.  As I approached one woman from behind, I rang my bell. Then I rang again and again.  I even called out my intentions to pass.  I slowed way down because there was no response or acknowledgement at all.  As I slowly crept by, the lady jumped out of her skin: “Oh my!”  I had to laugh later because there are always people posting on the trail’s Facebook page complaining about how some bicyclists or runners won’t return a greeting or complaining about how some of the “racers” will fly past you without ringing a bell or calling out to get your attention.  These posts now make sense to me: it apparently isn’t that people aren’t saying hi, ringing their bells, or calling out to people; it’s just that some of the walkers are deaf or plugging their ears! Over the past few weeks, it seems like quite a few people that I’ve passed are surprised or startled by my presence. I ring my bell, I call out to announce my presence, my allergies make me cough or clear my throat, etc.  But people just don’t hear.  I think they just don’t pay attention.

But it got me to thinking.  People say they listen and complain that people don’t speak to them when, in fact, they’re not really listening at all.  How often do we say that we are seeking God and listening for His voice, but we don’t hear Him because we’re not really listening?  We ask for guidance.  We want to know His will.  We want to respond to what He’s going to tell us: perhaps pointing out areas of sin in our hearts or showing us where we can serve Him better.  But we don’t hear His voice.  We blame it on Him: He’s not speaking, He’s showing us the way, or He’s not answering prayer.

You’ve got your ears plugged!  YOU are the one ignoring God!  YOU are the one that is listening to something else instead!  YOU are the one that isn’t listening!

Rev 2:5-7  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.  (6)  But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (7)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Act 7:54-59  When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.  (55)  But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,  (56)  And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.  (57) Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,  (58)  And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.  (59)  And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Zec 7:9-13  Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:  (10)  And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. (11)  But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.  (12)  Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.  (13)  Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:

Unplug those ears!