Shortie – Listening Ears and the Light of Life

The following was taken from this morning’s quiet time and I felt led to share it with you all.  Enjoy!

John 8:12-30 – First Read-Through

This morning, God showed me a dialogue his Son had to a group of non-believers, the Pharisees. He confirmed an idea he has led me to have before: the idea that when we engage with non-believers who will refuse to believe, it is not always for the sake of converting them, if ever, but for the sake of those around the non-believers, those with listening ears.

Here in John 8:12-30, we see Jesus engaging passionately, eloquently, and mysteriously with the Pharisees and teachers of the law, the group that despite having memorized much of the Old Testament, know not God in their heart. They are not going to believe, at least not here.

But at the very end of the conversation, John, our narrator, tells us, “As he was saying these things, many believed in him.” (John 8:30). Many times as a Christian not having engaged with fervent atheists, the enemy has attempted to make me worry about hypothetical conversations with them.  “What if I can’t answer one of their questions?”  “What if I respond unlovingly or on the flip side, with too much emotion and get angry myself?”  What if, what if, what if.

But the Lord has reminded me in my heart before, and through the Holy Spirit illuminating and confirming this idea in scripture now, that when we engage with somebody in a dialogue about the Gospel, it may not always be for the sake of the one we are speaking to directly, but for those listening. This is a truth hidden in this passage which is applicable to us today.

I think of the responsibility of parents who have little ears quietly paying attention to every word that is spoken gently or yelled angrily between father and mother, and the impact this has on the little one. I am a teacher.  How many times has one student listened to the way I encourage, redirect, or stumble in my speech towards another student?  Passages such as Proverbs 4:23-24, Matthew 15:11 and many, many more speak very directly about the importance of what we say, yet how often do we consider the impact it has on those listening around us?

Similarly, we must remember when we are sharing the Gospel, to not become frustrated if the one we are speaking with has the reciprocity of a brick wall, but be aware of those God has serendipitously placed around us to listen in on our conversation, and that the words we are using might actually not be our own, but are being led by God’s Spirit to be heard by others and not necessarily the one we are speaking with.

Of course, God is able to kill many birds with a single stone, so the words of the one we are speaking with could also be seeds while these same words may simultaneously serve as a scythe to others surrounding us as well. So next time God gives you the courage to hold your ground to an unreceptive atheist about your saving faith in Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for your sins, and it seems to be the most frustratingly fruitless endeavor, pause and take a look around.  There is a good chance you will have a piercing set of eyes looking upon you that you might not have been expecting.

Lord, thank you for the illumination of scripture and for the words you led John to write and even more for the words you spoke to us through your Son as well.  Please continuously illuminate scripture for us through the power of your Holy Spirit, and help us to speak boldly of your love and truth to others, both the ones we are speaking to and those who are listening.  Help us to be humble and mindful of those who listen to the words we speak, and lead us to always speak from a newly created heart that you are continuously making new in us.  We love you, to you be all the glory, and it’s in Jesus’ name, by the power of the Holy Spirit we pray, amen.

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