written by Stephan Joubert
To read one uses one’s eyes, and to listen one’s ears. Reading is a form of exercise, and requires different skills than hearing. For most of us the bible is just a ‘reading’ book. Nevertheless we find lots of scripture telling us to listen to the Lord. This means that in addition to reading and understanding, you should also hear and listen. Jesus often gave instructions that those who have ears must hear. Thus, the bible is a book to listen to, not just to read… Originally, the people heard the bible with their ears. Hearing is the primary revelation instrument of God. Therefore, learn to listen carefully. Learn to listen in a way that the word of the Lord overwhelms you. You have to listen in a way that you personally meet the living God over and over again in the bible… behind all the letters on paper!
written by Stephan Joubert
Language lives. Just consider how powerful a run-of-the-mill phrase like “Thank you” can be. Or a short sentence like: “I love you!” In the same way, sharp words can be very hurtful. Hard, loveless words are like gun shots. They wound people. That’s why the bible instructs us to count our words before we let them loose on the world. By the way, this isn’t merely good advice. God created us to be able to form second opinions. Our emotions are our first opinion formers. Some researchers are of the opinion that our emotions are as much as a million times faster than our thoughts, which are our second opinion formers. When we literally count to three, we have allowed our thoughts to kick-in. Then they can eliminate the words that our emotions want to let loose prematurely.
We must think our words over a second time before they fly through our lips in the direction of other peoples’ ears. Words that have already been spoken have a life of their own. The damage they inflict cannot be undone easily. Ask the Lord to dip your words in gold before they escape from your mouth. Ask Him to give your words a medicinal quality. Speak words of life and look what happens!
