Dear SCC & Friends,
He who has ears to hear… ~Mark 4:9
Reflection #243
I once complemented a well-known minister on how much his sermon had blessed me. He looked at me, almost staring a hole through me, and said, “Did you hear it brother? Did you hear it?” I was somewhat taken aback and meekly responded, “I think so.” It’s been many years later, and I still need to ask… Did I hear it?” People have told me many times that they grew up in the church but never heard the Gospel… sometimes because the Gospel was not being presented, but more often than not it’s because the Gospel was not being heard. It is the Holy Spirit who opens our heart to faith… Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. ~Rom. 10:17 Hearing without revelation is like “elevator music” being piped in without recognizing the song. …For the heart of this people has become dull. Their ears are hard of hearing. ~Matt. 13:14 We may ignore, but can nowhere evade the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito. ~C.S. Lewis~ ~Selah~
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me. ~Jn. 10:27 The Lord doesn’t force truth down our throats nor throw a rock harder than it takes to break a window… He approaches us with an invitation to hear and share life… I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me. ~Rev. 3:20 This is not a one-time invitation but an ongoing opportunity to a personal relationship with the Lord. Several years ago, an old friend of mine from college got divorced and I asked him what happened. He simply said, “We just drifted apart…” It’s so easy to drift if we let it happen… For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. ~Heb. 2:1 Did you hear it brother?… By God’s grace may it be yes and amen!… Keep up the good work!
Made for these days,
Kevin