ears to hear

As a slightly rebellious teenager I used to play little jokes on people, just for fun.  For example, I used to shout out in a crowded place "Hey, you with the shoes" and see who would turn around (because they were all wearing shoes).  I thought I was pretty funny.

Jesus often uses a phrase that we also find in the book of Revelation, "He who has ears to hear" (Matthew 11:15 and many others).  On the surface, this is a strange statement because most people have ears (with the unfortunate exception of the guy who had his ear cut off by Peter (Matthew 26:51)...but don't worry, Jesus healed his ear.  Why would Jesus say this?

Well, it doesn't really have anything to do with if you have ears, it's more of a question of are you listening?  Are you paying attention?  I have ears and good hearing, but sometimes, if I am watching football, I don't hear what my wife is saying.  I am not paying attention, not focused on what she said.  

Jesus is asking, are you paying attention?  In Revelation 2-3, the scriptures that we are studying in our current series "The Seven," the phrase "He who has ears to hear" is used over and over by John.  He wonders, are we paying attention?  Are we focused on what the Spirit has to say?  God is speaking, but are we really listening?

So turn up those hearing aids and focus in...the Spirit is speaking.

In Christ,
Pastor Scott