Children do it more obviously...
Illustration
Children do it more obviously. Spouses practice it more subtly: selective hearing. People
hear what they want and tend to ignore the rest. Pastors are sincerely complimented on
what they did say in their sermons, which makes up for some of the blame they receive
for what they also didn't say.
We do it with one another and we do it with Jesus. Jesus tells us to be reconciled and we, instead, file suit. Jesus tells us to be at peace and we, instead, shout, "Support the troops." Jesus tells us to follow him and we, instead, hire a pastor. Jesus commands us to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations," and we form a committee. Jesus tells us, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me," and we draw plans to build a new sanctuary.
Whether it's the earthly Jesus of the gospels pronouncing, "Let anyone with ears to hear listen" or the heavenly Jesus proclaiming, "Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches," when Jesus talks about the truth, we're not always open to what he says or to the way he finally communicates it. The truth about Jesus is that he's a strange kind of king, one who at times we don't listen to. He suffers in order to show God's love. He dies in order to reign.
We do it with one another and we do it with Jesus. Jesus tells us to be reconciled and we, instead, file suit. Jesus tells us to be at peace and we, instead, shout, "Support the troops." Jesus tells us to follow him and we, instead, hire a pastor. Jesus commands us to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations," and we form a committee. Jesus tells us, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me," and we draw plans to build a new sanctuary.
Whether it's the earthly Jesus of the gospels pronouncing, "Let anyone with ears to hear listen" or the heavenly Jesus proclaiming, "Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches," when Jesus talks about the truth, we're not always open to what he says or to the way he finally communicates it. The truth about Jesus is that he's a strange kind of king, one who at times we don't listen to. He suffers in order to show God's love. He dies in order to reign.
