Dear Church,
One of the quietest but most dangerous things that can happen to God’s people is that we lose the ability, or the willingness, to listen. Scripture says, “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19). But if we’re being honest, we often reverse the order. We are quick to speak, slow to listen, and far too quick to grow frustrated.
Listening is more than being silent while someone else talks.
It is an act of humility, a confession that “I don’t know everything, I don’t see everything, and I need to understand your heart before I judge your intentions.” It is also an act of love, because love gives others the dignity of being heard.
The early church was built on listening.
The apostles listened to the cries of the overlooked widows in Acts 6.
The church at Antioch listened to the prophets and teachers and sent Paul and Barnabas into mission.
Cornelius listened to God, Peter listened to the Spirit, and the Gentiles were welcomed into the kingdom.
When God’s people listen well, blessings follow.
But when we stop listening, division grows. Assumptions harden. Small misunderstandings become big problems. Instead of believing the best about each other, we react to perceived motives. Instead of drawing closer, we drift apart, not because of doctrine, but because of damaged relationships.
Dear church, listening is not weakness. It is Christlikeness.
Jesus listened to the blind man crying for mercy when the crowds tried to silence him.
He listened to the woman at the well long before He confronted her sin.
He listened to Thomas’ doubts, Peter’s fears, and Mary’s grief.
If the Son of God made room to hear the voices of the broken, the confused, and the struggling, so must we.
Let’s listen to God again.
Not just reading Scripture, but letting Scripture read us.
Not rushing through the Word, but letting it speak into our motives, attitudes, and habits.
Let’s listen to one another again.
Not to correct immediately, but to understand first.
Not waiting for our turn to talk, but making room for the hearts of our brothers and sisters.
And let’s listen to the world around us.
Not to adopt its ways, but to understand its hurts, so we can better bring Christ’s healing.
Dear church, listening is part of loving. Listening is part of unity. Listening is part of wisdom. And listening is part of being the people God calls us to be.