FROM YOUR LIPS TO GOD'S EARS

 

Remember days of yore, when you were a kid sitting around the campfire, whispering phrases in each other’s ears just to hear what kind of gobbledy-gook the sentence turned into at the end? Fun, wasn’t it?

Now, transfer this to adulthood, only there’s not 25 kids, but just you and another person trying to have a conversation. And it seems that when the words leave your lips, they take on a whole different shape and meaning by the time they enter the other person's ears, and confusion runs rampant, and you wonder why this person is so rude and annoying and insensitive!

Sometimes there may be legitimate reasons. I remember an eon ago, being a kid with teensy ability to stay focused. Mom would do her best to explain to me why baking toys in the oven was a bad idea. I heard only the first few words, because I was pondering whether or not a certain doll would fit down the toilet. I just wasn’t that interested in being obedient to mom, because I could only focus on having more fun.

Now that my parents are elderly, it’s apparent that words can misfire because of a genuine inability to hear well. Although occasionally, I detect “selective” hearing between them. One of them deliberately refuses to hear what’s being said because it conflicts with personal desire. I now see that life can certainly be a “circle” of confusion and misspent words.

So, it’s one thing to audibly hear words, and quite another to comprehend, to take the words into the mind and heart, to want to know what the speaker intends, to follow through, and to fellowship. And now I’m wondering to myself -- how do I hear His words?

What if I reverse the saying “from my lips to God’s ears” (meaning the speaker hopes that God hears and will answer) and consider it from His point of view, “from God’s lips to my ears.” If He’s speaking to me from His Word, and I’m not really hearing Him, is it because I’m preoccupied with the worldly “lust of the flesh and the eyes” (1 John 2:16)? Or because I’m choosing not to be obedient because His will conflicts with mine? Or because I’m listening to everyone else’s ideas instead of His divine wisdom?

My loving Father, please forgive me for annoying and grieving You by my rudeness and insensitivity. May I never, for even a minute, be like the people You warned through the prophet who “stopped their ears from hearing” (Zechariah 7:11), or turn my “ears away from the truth” (2 Timothy 4:4) in favor of a myth, or hear my Jesus’ commands and have no desire to be obedient (Matthew 7:26). You told the disciples to listen to Your Son (Matthew 17:5). You don’t mumble, Your words are very clear. I have no genuine excuses for hearing “yakkity-yak” noises from Scripture. You want me to know Your heart’s desire for me, and for me to have a joyful obedience to, and fellowship with You in return. I’m so thankful for Your continuing patience, truth, and wisdom, even in the midst of my “selective” hearing.

POP QUIZ

If you haven’t been a student for many decades, the words “pop quiz” may cause you to hyperventilate. If so, I’m sorry. But not really. Now, take the bubble gum out of your mouth, sit up straight, and don’t cheat. Here we go.

A friend calls to tell you that she’s in the neighborhood and is going to drop by in about 10 minutes, and she’s going to take you to the world’s best combination amusement park and shopping mall and 10-star restaurant, and you need to be dressed and ready to leave. Do you --

A. Panic-stricken, race around the house at warp speed picking up flotsam, hurling things in closets and under rugs, wiping up spills, hoping she won’t notice and tell you what a slob you are, and you can’t find anything to wear, and the whole time you’re hoping she’ll hit a pothole and be indefinitely delayed;

OR

B. Do you lounge in your cushy recliner with a glass of raspberry tea, relaxed and confident in your organized home, wearing just the right all-purpose wrinkle-free stain-free outfit and say, “come on over! Can’t wait to see you!”

Clearly, analogies go just so far. And I’m sure you see where I’m going with this. Nowadays, just as in the olden days, people ask, “where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:4). Unbelievers clearly think that Christ’s return for His Church is a bunch of “hooie.” But sadly, even many believers have difficulty realizing that Christ really meant it when He said He was coming back to take us with Him (John 14:3).  He’s certainly not going to shoot off a text to us, saying, “hey, heads-up, I’ll be down there in 10 minutes.” But if He DID, would you --

A. Be embarrassed at His coming, scurrying around, trying to clean up spiritual messes and flotsam (1 John 2:28-29)?

OR

B. Be relaxed, look up with great expectation, and say, “come, Lord Jesus," because you're oh-so ready for Him. You don’t have to run around wiping up spiritual spills, trying to hide spiritual unconfessed flotsam, thinking He won’t notice, because you, in obedience, have been continually abiding in Him.

My precious Lord Jesus, I don’t know when You’re coming, but You have graciously already told me the “signs” (Matthew 24). I believe Your promise that You are preparing a place for me. And it will be so much better than any park/mall/restaurant combo, because You will raise me to be imperishable (1 Corinthians 15:50-54), and so I will always be with You (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). By Your words, I am encouraged and comforted.

ATTITUDES AND ACRONYMS

Recently as I was strolling through the internet labyrinth, I learned that as many acronyms exist as there are stars in the universe. Most acronyms are way too technical for my wee brain, but I got my daily giggle from several, including:

DENIAL = Don’t Even Know I’m Lying

DIET = Did I Eat That?
MATH = Mental Abuse to Humans,
and my favorite:
AAAA = Association Against Acronym Abuse

That was entertaining, wasn’t it? However, I had a brain spasm recently because of a particular acronym on social media, one that I won’t repeat here, because I don’t want you to look it up and be grossed out. The cleaned-up version of that acronym is meant to tell people “do I look like I care about much of anything?” Apparently, it’s on a line of clothing and is considered to be “attitude” wear. From my vantage point, one might as well be wearing the "cat-with-bad-attitude" picture on one's shirt.  The individual who displayed this acronym on his site clarified by saying that he doesn’t care about anyone’s opinion of him, that he’s done what he wants his entire life, and that the only opinion he ever considers is his wife’s and God’s, and nobody else. And he solidified his lack of caring what people think by offering two more posts with foul language. Yes, this person professes to be a Christian.

I know this person, therefore I'm sure he wouldn’t take too kindly to being held accountable by another Christian. He wouldn’t want to hear about how God’s Word emphasizes believers’ attitudes towards one another are to be that of humility and encouragement. He wouldn’t enjoy reading the many verses emphasizing “wise in their own eyes” and haughtiness, and lack of listening to godly counsel is a gigantic hindrance in walking the Christian road. And he particularly wouldn’t like to hear that the Almighty God doesn’t have “opinions.” He is the “I Am” and His Word is truth. His commands are to be obeyed, not just “considered” and then tossed aside in favor of worldly desires.

And at this point, I must consider the speck/log issue. How many times have I myself behaved in a haughty, not humble, manner towards others, not taken godly advice, or glossed over God’s commands? Probably more than I would care to admit. Sticking one's tongue out at God is, at the very least, inconsiderate.  So this acronym issue was a good wakeup call. And I’ve found many other acronyms that display a more profitable “attitude” to wear on my clothes, and treasure in my heart:

ACTS = Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, Supplication

ALONE = Always Leading Others Near Eternity

BREAD = Bible Reveals Every Answer Daily
CHRIST = Compassionate Humble Redeemer Immortal Servant Truthful
GRACE = God Really Covers Everything

My Father, I am so thankful to You for pointing out the importance of evaluating my potential behavior by asking myself, and You, if what I’m about to do will glorify You, or give You a “brain spasm.” Will it veer me off the road I’m walking with You? Will it help or impede, or gross out, other believers if they see what I do? Father, You are so very patient with me, and Your Word is so sufficient, that I want You to be the first Counselor I seek. And if You choose to mediate Your love and advice through other believers, give me the humbleness of heart to listen to them.