The Art of Hearing

I read the story recently of two men who were walking along a crowded city sidewalk. Suddenly, one of the men remarked, "Listen to the lovely sound of that cricket," but the other man could not hear the sound. He asked his friend how he could hear the chirping of a cricket amid the roar of the traffic and the sound of the people. The man, who was a zoologist, had trained himself to hear the sounds of nature. He didn’t explain to his friend in words how he could hear the cricket, but instead reached into his pocket, pulled out a half-dollar coin dropping it onto the sidewalk. He then watched intently as a dozen people began to look for the coin as they heard it clanking around amid the sounds of  traffic and crowded city living. He turned to his friend and said, "We hear what we listen for."  This is the point Jesus makes in John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” Every believer is to hear the voice of God but hearing is not a given, it is a learned art.  Several ingredients are involved in developing this gift. First we must take time to listen. Second, we must listen for the things God likes to talk about. Most often His conversations center on our development, obedience, and loving people.  Last of all we must entertain the various methods God uses to communicate with us.  Sometimes His voice is heard in thunderous tones at other times He speaks with a whisper. On occasion He speaks for Himself while occasionally He uses the voice of a donkey, a rooster, a prophet, or an ordinary person. During those seasons of your life when you feel the heavens are brass and the voice of God totally silent, remember the Shepherd is speaking. The problem lies not in His refusing to talk, but in our ability to listen.  We only hear as we develop the art of hearing.