Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they’re bursting with health. Proverbs 4: 20-22 The Message When driving around in my car, I often tune the radio to our local Christian radio station, as well as other stations. If a station comes in strong and clear, I am much more apt to listen to it. If I am barely receiving a station, and there is a lot of static, I usually change to another station. Here, the writer of Proverbs envisions the Lord speaking to us. One of God’s messages is “tune your ears to my voice.” In the same way that we cannot listen to two different radio stations on a single radio simultaneously, we have to decide which voice we will listen to. Jesus himself emphasized this point. After sharing a parable, He would sometimes say, “Let the one who has to hear, hear.” I interpret this to mean that although Jesus was speaking to many people, it is up to each of us listening to tune in to Him. If we are not really listening and focusing, we will miss something important in God’s word. Unfortunately, there are some who find it easier to just “Tune out the Lord!” Not only does Jesus want us to tune into His voice, He wants us to focus on His word. His desire is for us to place it in our hearts permanently. Jeana attended a Christian school for 12 years. Often she tells me how she hears a familiar scripture, and remembers memorizing it as a child. Weekly, she would memorize a verse, and sometimes more than one. As we get older, memorization may become a bit trickier. However, knowing where to find familiar passages of scripture can be so helpful to our spiritual journeys. Age does not have to be a hindrance for some. I remember my religion professor at Whitworth, Dr. Dale Bruner, having the scripture he would teach on memorized. He did this until he retired in his 60’s. Not only that, he would often have them memorized in the original Greek! I always marveled at how he would bring home the scripture’s meaning in a more personal way through his lectures by being so immersed in the Word. Finally, the writer of Proverbs envisions God’s blessing following all those who “tune their ears” to His holy word. God blesses those who listen to His word with life and health, according to these verses. Therefore, let us “tune in” to God’s word. Whether you memorize, or immerse yourself in the word, find time to know where to seek the help, comfort, guidance of His Holy Word. Attend a group bible study, or study on your own. The Lord offers us so much through the scriptures! The Lord will bless you as you when you tune into Him. Prayer God of all wisdom, Amid all the changing words of our generation, help me to “tune in” to Your eternal word. Give me ears to hear, and eyes to see, the wonders of Your Holy Word. Speak, O Lord, for your servant is listening… I pray this prayer in the name of Your son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
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