Already this month, I have posted about our need to be heard and God’s need to be heard.

But what about Jesus? Does He need to be heard?

Just as much as ever (as in each previous generation and century), His words and teachings need to be heard, understood, and applied. His teachings are true and timeless.

But how He’s heard… Well, that’s another matter.

When we are being heard by another person, I think there are three basic levels on which that can happen.

There is the level at which they are next to us or staring at us but apparently not really focused on anything we are saying.

Then there is the level where they are hearing us out, listening out of polite respect or with cloaked disdain or apathy, or adamantly opposed to our point of view but letting us speak our peace.

And then there is hearing us with their heart. To be heard out is sometimes necessary but if it never moves further, and we are never heard with the heart, something is left wanting in us.

And we must be heard with another’s heart to say that we “have been truly heard.”

Back to Jesus… There are four basic ways in which people generally respond to Him. There are those who never hear about Him, either because they have no chance or they don’t pay attention to religion-related matters.

Then, there are those who are exposed to the thought of Him or a few of His ideas, but those thoughts/ideas go in one ear and out the other.

Then, there are the people who, to some degree, hear Jesus out; He is heard by them but only in so much as they can stand to hear. Or they really like a few things that He has to say, so when He is heard by them, they pick and choose which of His words they want to hold on to.

And then there are people who hear Him with their heart.

But whenever we have our own goals and agendas, I think it is easier to just hear His words out without hearing Him with our hearts.

This may mean we’ve only heard part of what He said and tuned out the rest. Or, more commonly, it may mean we’ve heard His words in full but have run them through our interpretive filters to twist the meaning for the sake of protesting against Him or lording it over or otherwise harming our fellow humans.

Take, for example, a famous story from Luke, about two sisters named Martha and Mary. Martha was busy fixing dinner for all the guests, while Mary was sitting with the rest of the guests, listening to Jesus teach and finding great joy in simply being near Him.

I have heard of people use this story to illustrate how doing nothing or just being is more worshipful than working, or how Martha is a symbol of workaholics and people who try to earn their way to heaven. I’ve also heard people use the story to suggest that Jesus didn’t really listen to and value women while he walked the earth, nor did He appreciate all the work they do to help make home and family a meaningful place. Some have said that Mary is the better of the two sisters, period. Others have said that Martha should have been ashamed for speaking so directly to Jesus, and how dare she interrupt to complain to him? Clearly we are all to only be like trusting, restful Mary and completely avoid Martha’s behaviors!

But when I read the story again and invited Jesus to be heard with my heart, this is where I landed. We can imagine and gather that Jesus loved both women equally well and was pleased with both aspects of their faith: the devoted listening and the passionate service. There is a need for the traits of each of these women in all of our lives, spiritually speaking. If we really allow Jesus to be heard, we hear Him saying that it is great at times to be still and to be near Him in quietness, but also to be near Him in all things, no matter what type of service we may be doing for Him.

These thoughts may be simple, but today they are powerful reminders for me. Because I was always under the impression that I had to be one or the other: Martha or Mary. I couldn’t be both. But as I allow Jesus to be heard, I see clearly that I am both. And both aspects of me in my relationship with Him are good. The key just seems to be that I allow Him to be heard in every day and every aspect of my life, no matter what I am doing or ceasing to do, serving as He gives me purpose and embracing stillness when that would be the better choice.

I wonder what the world would be like if those of us who would hear Jesus would not just hear Him out, but if we allowed Him to be heard rightly with our hearts more often?

God speaks, but how often do we allow His voice to be heard? What drowns out His voice in our lives? Is it busyness, or fear, or selective hearing, or disbelief?

A few passages come to mind.

In Exodus 4, God appears to Moses in the form of a burning bush. When Moses hears God’s command, he protests. And God asks him, “Who gave man his mouth? Isn’t it Me? So don’t tell Me you can’t talk because I’m the one who gave you that ability, and I will tell you what to say if you will listen.” Funny, how when God says that, He’s not angry with Moses… He doesn’t get angry with Moses until Moses ignores His words and keeps protesting.

In Job 38, after God has a listened to Job and his friends debating for chapters on end, God decides to speak for Himself, and He says to Job, “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man. I will question you and you shall answer Me.” Then, God goes on for a few chapters, letting them all have it, so to speak. At that point, we can imagine God’s voice crashing like a combination of deep thunder and cymbals and giant ocean waves.

In Colossians 1, Paul says, “For God the Father has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Through this writing, God is clearly speaking. He is not angry or cynical, and He is extending love and mercy, forgiveness and adoption.

So which is it? Does God speak out of anger, or does He speak out of love? He speaks our of both and in the best tone as the situation warrants it. But it seems that what warrants it is both particular circumstances and also the heart of the person or the people who are listening… IF they are listening.

(Back to Job, chapter 33, Job’s young acquaintance says, “Why do you complain to God that He answers none of man’s words? For God does speak: now one way, now another, though man may not perceive it…” And he goes on to give examples of some of those ways that God speaks.)

That’s the thing. We all long to be heard. How much more must God long to be heard? And how much more joy must He receive when we are willing to listen to Him? For God certainly could speak to us in anger, especially if our hearts are proud or stubborn. But far more often, through the beauty of what He creates and the revelation of His word, the things He wants to tell us are good and are softly spoken. They are not always happy, because sometimes His good promises mean our admonishment or correction. But they are always good because His promises are always for our good. And many of them will bring us happiness, if we will allow Him to be heard and we will listen to what He says.

Are we worried? Let us focus on the good promises of God. Are we confused? Let us listen for the wisdom of God. Are we sad? Let us hear the whisper of God. Are we stuck? Let us be prodded by the passion of God.

But, above all, let us have ears, hearts, and souls that invite God to be heard.

To close, a short untitled poem:

“Who gave you your mouth?” I have

longed to shout

when the hearts that are proud

and stubborn speak out,

before opening the soul

I gave them to know

more than what would go

into their ears, slowly,

if they would listen.

Yet every day, I speak

in tones magnificent, but quietly,

to not overwhelm the weak

and to know if they really hear Me.

For everyone can feel thunder,

and anyone can tremble at anger.

But only those who live in wonder

will embrace the promised splendor

when My heart is truly heard.

From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. // Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. (Psalm 61:2-3, Psalm 62:8 NIV)

God is alive. And He is active. And He is loving.

Consider the ramifications of those simple statements. If He is alive, then we must ask what His existence means for us. If He is active, then we would be blind, foolish, or selfish to not notice what He is doing. And if He is loving…well…what is one to think of a God like that? Is it indeed possible to both be in awe of Him and draw close to Him at the same time?

If any or all of those simple statements are false, what’s to be done except pity the people who believe them to be true. Those misguided dreamers.

If only the first is true, what real honor is now due Him? If just the first and second are true, why should we not live our lives in deepest terror of what He might allow next? But if all three are true, that changes everything.

On to another claim. We are made in the image of God. Marvelously. If one doubts it, I invite that person to kindly explain all the mysterious intricacies of a human being to me.

Take for example, the ear. Made to hear sounds that delight and warn and educate. But also made to capture words so we can listen from the heart.

There are two simple observations about the design of the ear that strike me today. One is how the outline of a single ear is very similar to half of our traditional heart shape, and if we are to put the outline of two ears together, facing each other, it forms a whole heart. I also love how when the head is tipped to the side, water and other solutions can be poured into the ear to flush it clean, the ear becoming like a tiny well.

I see a connection between these two simple observations and the verses quoted above. We are made in God’s image, and in whatever way He does it, He hears us. When we call, our cry lands upon His ear. And when we pour out our hearts to Him, our thoughts, needs, and longings trickle down into the depths of His heart.

We may be afraid to say things that we think or feel. And sometimes, when we do dare to say them, it seems like no person around us is listening.

But be encouraged, and rest assured. For we can tell God anything. And when we tell Him, we are surely, and lovingly, heard.

The very first thing God ever made was light. Does this mean there was no light before He created it? Yes and no.

There was no physical universe, and no light in that physical universe, before He created those things. But everlasting light, in the sense of God and Heaven and His Spirit, has always been and it will always be.

It is the Light that is everlasting (both from forever-past until now AND from the past and now on until forever). It is this Light that both encompasses Jesus as a part of the Trinity and also encircled His human being while He chose to walk the earth inside the bounds that bind us.

“In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” (Jn. 1:4-5, 9 – NIV)

The words for today’s art are inspired by a hymn, one written by a man named Rusty Edwards. His original first line says, “Praise the One who breaks the darkness with a liberating light.” I chose to change the words slightly, however, because I think there is a difference between seeing God’s light as “a liberating light” and as “the everlasting light.”

There are multiple ways one can think of that, but I will focus one viewpoint today. To me, God’s light as a liberating light focuses on the freedom we find in this life and world, certainly for our souls from fear of death and bondage to sin, but also for our bodies from addictions and pain, and for our minds from ignorance and pride. And God’s light as the everlasting light focuses on all those things outside this life and world that we cannot really see and know (at least a taste of) until we get to Heaven.

Both levels or aspects of this light we need are so important.

We need the first light to give us hope and strength in this life, to believe that new life in His light and freedom in the face of our humanity are each present-day possibilities…indeed, chooseable actualities.

And we need the second light to help us glimpse the possible reasons behind all the things we can’t see clearly now. For if we trust that everlasting light and the goodness of Providence, we will have hope and strength to face all the things we are not, for some reason, set free from in this earthly journey — and all the things we cannot comprehend this side of Heaven.

After all, isn’t faith ultimately being certain of what we cannot see with these human eyes? (See Heb 11:1.) And doesn’t one need light to see anything at all?

“God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” (1 Jn 1:5b – NIV) Light to liberate now? Yes. Light to shine through the dark clouds of our weakness and limitations when struggles sometimes remain? Yes. Light to help us see and know fully even as we are fully known when the bounds of time are no more? Yes.

To the One who both is the Light and maintains the Light — without making a mistake (though I cannot fathom Your ability now): praise be.

How do we handle the challenges that come from within and embrace more effective personal growth when cooperating with God’s Spirit?

If you get to know me very well at all, you’ll know I am a detail person. It is a blessing when I want to experience an event with full sensory delight or when I need to edit a manuscript. It feels like a curse when I notice a tiny troublesome element that distracts me from enjoying everything else or when I review the published draft and see the small mistakes I missed.

Why is it important to notice details? The focused answers range widely, from needing to report a crime and find a suspect…to recommending the supreme restaurant with the best steak due to unique nuances…to pinpointing the root of a medical or relational issue so healing can come. Imagine a surgeon who didn’t care where he reattached the end of your detached tendon or a mother who didn’t pay attention to how much hot sauce she dumped into the casserole for her small children.

But a critical — and often-avoided — area where details need to be accurately and frequently noticed is the area of our personal growth. These details need to be observed and addressed accurately because it is easy to either be overly critical and doubtful of our ability to grow OR too quick with and lenient on ourselves. And they need to be observed and addressed frequently because the greatest positive growth happens with a slow steadiness that brings lasting improvement while the best correction of negative tendancies happens when such things are caught early.

There are several keys to undergird more meaningful noticing in this critical part of our lives, including all areas: the spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional.

We must ask God to help us see what He has already seen. Most people don’t naturally look for all the details or notice them successfully. We gain this skill through training and practice. Who better to train us than the One who has seen everything already? And who better to help us practice this habit than the One who is supremely patient?

We must be discerning when we listen to others. People around us may see things differently or more clearly than we do. So keeping wise company and listening when that company speaks are two very important habits to maintain. At the same time, we are all limited in our humanity, and so we must learn to think carefully about the observations and advice of others, in terms of our own growth.

We must remember that there are still (and will always be) clear lines of right and wrong as well as true measures of what is helpful and harmful. Culture has changed over time, but eternal truth hasn’t. And the latter is what guides us best on this road of holistic learning.

We must desire humility and rejoice in every day where we live to see justice and mercy embrace each other a little more in our lives.

God has seen everything about us, in our past and our present and our future.

And He still loves us so much that He is willing and desiring to draw us close and protect us.

At the end of this Psalm, the Psalmist invites God to see him again and know him deeper still.

The choice to invite Him in, to remain and to want Him to see us, in every aspect from our joys to our terrors, for an entire life’s journey: I know of no greater sign of trust and dependence.