The world offers many distractions that encourage us to ignore Jesus’ teachings. We have to make a concerted effort to focus our attention on Christ and understand that His Words are of the utmost importance.

You can tell when you don’t have someone’s undivided attention. Maybe it’s a spouse who’s watching the news, a teenager wearing headphones blasting tunes, or a coworker who can’t wait to beat rush hour traffic. Whatever the case, even if you’ve got eye contact, you know when the person you’re talking to is not listening to what you have to say.

Jesus knows what that’s like, too. He has vital, life-giving truth and wisdom to share with the world, and too often, we don’t pay attention to it. Maybe we think we already know what He would say. Or that His teachings are good but not all that important. Or perhaps our minds just wander because we’re hungry, worried, or otherwise distracted.

But there were times during His ministry when Jesus didn’t want anyone’s mind to drift off. In his message “Listening to God,” Dr. Stanley shares four passages of Scripture that describe times when Jesus wanted His followers to pay careful attention:

Mark 4:1-3. As He taught a large crowd, Jesus called for their attention by saying, “Listen to this!”

Mark 4:23-24. Christ also announced, “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear,” and cautioned them saying, “Take care what you listen to.” It’s not only important to hear, but it’s critical to be discerning in our listening.

Mark 7:14. At another time, Jesus called out, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand.” His goal is that we comprehend what He says.

John 3:3. When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, He said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” The phrase, “Truly, truly, I say to you,” is used twenty-five times by Christ in the book of John. It was His way of emphasizing that what He was saying was authoritative truth that deserved full attention.

The world offers many distractions that encourage us to ignore Jesus’ teachings. We have to make a concerted effort to focus our attention on Christ and understand that His Words are of the utmost importance. And when we listen as if what He says matters, then we’ll live according to truth and reap the benefits of walking wisely.

Written by Linda Canup