Judges 20 & 21, John 8: 31-59, Psalm 78: 56-72
John 8: 47 (ESV)
“Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why
you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
In verse 47 from John 8, Jesus tells the Pharisees that only
those who belong to God will hear and understand his words, because they have a
relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ. Biblical scholars call
spiritual discernment a gift from God which allows believers to recognize God’s
voice. Jesus tells the Pharisees that the reason they do not hear the words of
God through Jesus is because they don’t have a relationship with God. Verse 8
must have been so insulting to the Pharisees since they thought they had a relationship
with God through being descendants of Abraham and following all the laws set
forth in the Torah. When I listen to a live sermon, I do not like to take notes
because I feel that I have to listen intently with the head and heart to get
the gist of the message. I have to use spiritual discernment when I listen to a
sermon. Since the services at my church are streamed live, I sometimes relisten
to the sermons that stir me and then take notes so I can reflect further on the
message of the sermon. I’ve also had the experience of relistening to sermons I
like and getting a very different message from the sermons, and I’ve decided
this change means I am deepening my relationship with God and with his word. Verse
8 also explains to me when other people who are not believers do not resonate
with a sermon that deeply moved me. And even when I disagree with a sermon, I
know I have to use my spiritual discernment to analyze if I am resisting the
words of God because of a sin or unbelief that I don’t want to let go.
No comments:
Post a Comment