Wed 30/4/14 Food for soul: God gave us two ears and one mouth so we may hear more and talk less!

John 3:16-21

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Food for thought! God gave us two ears and one mouth so we may hear more and talk less!

Jesus continues his teaching. Indeed, we must say that he begins his REAL teaching. As Jesus talks more and more, our friend Nicodemus is talking less and less. Did you notice that up to now Nicodemus was more argumentative and even stubborn in his questions? (Jn 3:4) Last Monday he said: "How can anyone be born who has already been born and grown up? You can't re- enter your mother's womb and be born again. What are you saying with this 'born- from- above' talk?" Then, yesterday, Nicodemus was brief: (Jn 3:9) “How can these things be?” he just said. Today, Nicodemus is completely silent; he is no longer saying anything, he is no longer arguing, he's now receptive, he has surrendered. 

As Nicodemus gives in, Jesus gives out all there's to say; as he surrenders Jesus leads, now it is Jesus doing all the talking, and Nicodemus all the listening. Now it is the moment of eternal revelations. Nicodemus is now learning; Jesus is teaching.

You know? Many of us are like this Nicodemus; we come to the Lord (or to prayer) armed with questions and arguments and concerns. Some of us, when we go to the Lord, we do all the talking all the time, asking why me, why now, why all this... we don't want to stop for Jesus to start; we don't want to give in, in order for Jesus to give out what he holds for us, we don't want to surrender for Jesus to lead us; we don't want to listen for Jesus to talk. Sometimes it is best for us to say nothing to God in prayer. Try to find a quiet spot where you can retreat to in order to sit quietly by yourself.

When Nicodemus stopped arguing, Jesus started to make revelations to him: (Jn 3:14-18).

14 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God."

All this teaching was said by Jesus when Nicodemus stopped talking and started to listen. Let us learn to listen that the Lord may talk. Yes, sometimes the best we can do when we go to Jesus or prayer or church is to just shut up and give Jesus a chance to talk. Don't do all the talking but all the listening, so that Jesus may start revealing to you the mysteries of life. Talk less that Jesus may talk more.

There’s an old saying that God gave us two ears and one mouth so we may hear more and talk less. Remember this: “All wise men share one trait in common: the ability to listen.” —Frank Tyger. A major reason why some relationships break down could be that one or more of the parties involved hasn’t learned to listen! You can learn to listen, and when you do, you will increase not only our capacity to learn but also our ability to maintain healthy relationships. 

So, learn to spend time with you dear ones, your spouse, your children, and especially with Jesus and get to know Him. You may know about this Jesus from what you have read in the Bible or even in sermons, but to really get to know Him you must begin to listen to Him. When you listen you transform your head knowledge into heart knowledge and that into a relationship with Jesus. To him be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever.