Good Listening
February 6-7
Good Listening
Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17
Romans 10:17 says, ‘Faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ’. In fact, how we listen reflects our personal relationship with God. Good listening is a way God uses us to pour out His grace into the lives of others. In fact, it’s a dynamic of true Christian fellowship.
Hearing the word is the first step to living it out. Hearing it through personally reading it or listening to it intently through the Bible app. This type of active listening is an act of faith, for, through hearing the word, God is able to pour out His grace on His people. However, in order to listen well you need to be externally relaxed and internally active. You’ll need to have your ears turned up to hear what God is saying to you in this season. Dietrch Bonhoeffer, a theologian, states that ‘listening can be a greater service than speaking’. Sometimes, it’s not about finding solutions to the person’s problem, but allowing God’s affirmation to flow into the person’s life.
Good listening enables us to ask the right questions. Proverbs 20:5 says, ‘Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out.’ Good listening and perceptive questioning will point a person towards holiness and hope in God.
Active listening can express the love talked about in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7, ‘Love is patient, love is kind’. When listening leads us to love as Christ loves us, He’s able to bring more of His children to Himself. Listening leads you to be able to love people more effectively and intentionally.
Prayer for today: Father God, help us to listen first to Your word, and then to the hearts of our brothers and sisters. Help us to allow Your love to flow through us, making our lives a reflection of what we hear and see the Father doing. Amen.