3 December 2023 - Obedience to God's Word begins with active listening to hear

James 1:22-24(MSG) Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.

The Hebrew word for obey means to hear. To truly hear God's Words implies obedience, as opposed to simply receiving information. The Greek phrase for obey literally means to hear under. The idea of obedience in the New Testament is a hearing that takes place under the authority or influence of the speaker, thus leading to compliance with what is being taught.

To hear God, we must listen to God, understand what God says, trust in what God says and be transformed by what God says.

Hear God - Luke 8:18(NET) So listen carefully, for whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.”

Hebrews 3:7&15(NET) Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! . . . As it says, “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

Hebrews 4:7(NET) So God again ordains a certain day, “Today,” speaking through David after so long a time, as in the words quoted before, “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts.”

Understand what God says - Proverbs 20:12(NET) The ear that hears and the eye that sees - the LORD has made them both.

James 1:19(NIV) My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

Trust in what God says - Isaiah 55:10-11(NLT) “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”

Be transformed by the word of God - Psalm 119:9-12(NLT) How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. I have tried hard to find you - don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. I praise you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.

Hebrews 4:12(NLV) God’s Word is living and powerful. It is sharper than a sword that cuts both ways. It cuts straight into where the soul and spirit meet and it divides them. It cuts into the joints and bones. It tells what the heart is thinking about and what it wants to do.

Make a personal decision to improve your life everyday with the Word of God, your life will truly be an unending stream of success and progress.