AUGUST 13

Psalm 85:8

“We have a new girl in our Sunday school class today,” announced Tiffany one Sunday noon. “Her name is Lauren, and she’s deaf. She has to read lips.”

Mom nodded. “I’ve met her mother,” she said. “The family migrated to Singapore recently.” Mom set a dish on the table. “Just last week I read an article that said a few thousand people in our country are totally deaf,” she added, “and even more can’t hear as well as they should.”

“Nolan doesn’t hear as well as he should.” Tiffany grinned at her brother. “He hears only when he wants to,” she teased. “Like… he hears just fine when somebody mentions dessert, but he doesn’t seem to hear when someone mentions chores that need to be done.” Nolan grinned, too. “Speak for yourself,” he said.

“I guess we’re all guilty of that once in a while. We call that selective hearing,” Dad told them. After a moment he added, “Sadly, some of us who have perfectly good ears are deaf in another way-we’re spiritually deaf.”

“Spiritually deaf?” echoed Tiffany. “What does that mean?”

“It means failing to hear what God has to say,” explained Dad. “He invites everyone to trust in Jesus and be saved, but many people don’t seem to hear Him. God warns of coming judgement, but people are so busy with their own interests that they don’t pay attention. It’s as though they’re deaf to what He’s saying.”

“Even we who are Christians often don’t hear God as well as we should,” said Mom. “After accepting His gift of salvation, we sometimes stop meeting with other Christians and neglect Bible study and prayer. We seem to quit listening, especially if we’re afraid we’ll hear something from God that we don’t like.”

“I guess that would be like what Dad said we’re guilty of,” suggested Nolan. “Selective hearing.”

“That’s correct,” said Dad. “We need to keep our spiritual ears open all the time and be listening when there’s something God wants to tell us.”

Thought: Do you have trouble hearing what God has to say to you?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please show me the things You want me to learn from the Bible. I pray I’ll never turn a deaf ear to You, but be always ready to listen and obey. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.