Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Did You Hear What I Said?”
"If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you...since you ignored all my advice, and would not accept my rebuke..." – Proverbs 1:23, 25

There is a word in this verse that stands out to me. It is the word, “ignored.” If you look closely at this word you might discover that there is another word that comes to mind that just might be of more significance to what God is trying to say to us...IGNORANCE.
I’ve lost count as to how many times my wife has tried to hold a conversation with me and talked to me about something only to later have me ask her about something that she had already told me. She calls this “selective listening” which is probably true. I think we tend to tune out what we do not want to hear and pay attention to what holds our interest. What it truly comes down to is that I failed to pay attention to her in the first place! I unintentionally “ignored” her but by doing so I became ignorant of what I needed to know.
I came across the following story some years ago which is about “listening.” Not necessarily listening with one’s ears as with ones heart and spirit. Nick Thomas found himself at the age of 47 unemployed and under tremendous financial pressure. Though he had a successful career in the Air Force and the insurance business, some reversals had set him back and left him with no place to go. His wife, Liz, made their situation a matter of deep prayer. She was in church one morning, praying about their dilemma when she thought she could almost hear the words, "Make the mustard." Her family had a mustard recipe going back several generations when from when they lived in Russia and every Christmas she had made mustard as presents for her friends. She decided to give it a try. She prepared a substantial amount and called on a local cheese shop. The manager tasted it and immediately bought out their inventory. Within three months they had cracked the highly competitive major New York Deli market. Because the Thomas’s committed their troubles to prayer, looked to God for guidance, and committed themselves to listening......He gave them the direction they were needing.
That has me pondering as to how many times that I and many others have sat in Church or at a camp meeting or a seminar where the speaker provided the audience with incredible and useful material only to leave that place unchanged. God spoke and I did not listen like I should have. And because I did not listen I was ignorant of much that I probably… no, wait a minute…what I certainly needed to know.
How many times have we heard people say, “I believe in God, but I just don’t know if I can accept or believe the Bible.” Much of that has to do with following the “guidelines” and principles that are found in it. You cannot believe in God and not accept the fact that there are standards attached that have been given—and by both listening to and following those standards, life is more rewarding and abundant. Lord, forgive me for the times that you have tried to get my attention only to have me shove you aside and ignore Your advice. Help me to be a better listener, especially when You have my best interest in mind.
Pastor J. T. Carnell.