If I asked you how you have experienced the love of God, how would you answer?
Have you experienced the love of God through…
…the beauty of nature?
…viewing the ocean waters?
…worship music?
…inspiring writings?
…the quiet?
…those that serve you when in need?
…feeling valued and respected by another?
…the person who takes time to listen to not only your words but your heart too?
I heard this quote from a sermon:
How powerful is that statement?
Does it ring true in your life?
Didn’t Jesus model that quote?
Jesus was an instrument of the love of God to others by the way He valued and listened to them.
A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. –Mark 1:40-42 (NLT)
Jesus listened to the leper’s earnest plea to be healed. Valuing this leper so much, Jesus willingly touched him, which was something that would make Jesus unclean according to the Mosaic law. The leper was healed immediately and experienced God’s love for him.
We know sometimes God has reasons for “not willing” to heal our bodies in the way we want. We should keep in mind that we are still valued and loved by Him. God is God, and we need to trust His perfect will reigns in our lives.
“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” –John 8:4-11 (NLT)
This woman committed adultery, an offense that warranted stoning her according to the law of Moses. Jesus valued her as a child of God. He asked the teachers of the law and the Pharisees that whoever of them was without sin to cast the first stone. Jesus shared God’s love with this woman by not condemning her but encouraging her to change her life and ways.
I believe this acrostic describes some of Jesus’ listening skills:
How well do you measure up with Jesus’ example?
Is there one area above that you think you need to improve upon when listening to others?
How can we model Jesus’ listening to others?
How can we better share God’s love by listening and making others feel valued?
By…
…giving our full attention to the person.
…letting our heart hear what the person is sharing.
…ridding our mind and heart of prejudices.
…asking engaging, open-ended questions.
…not interrupting.
…showing patience.
…trying to empathize.
…validating what the person is feeling.
…praying with the person.
May you be encouraged this week to…
…work on one word from the acrostic to better model how Jesus listened.
…be instruments of love,
of God’s love,
as you strive to listen from the heart,
helping others feel valued.
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. –James 1:19 (NIV)