Priming over the stubborn green paint😊Hearing and Listening

Philippians 2:1-9

 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death [h]on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,

Now, it might be helpful if you follow me in your Bibles today as I glean over these verses.

Have you heard the saying: You hear me but you don’t listen to me? 

When my kids were little and I wanted them to listen to me I would gently place my hand on their chin and say “Look at me and listen” I made sure their eyes were focused on my face.

I did this to teach them to listen and to follow my instructions because it’s so easy for little ones to have their minds on something else and not pay attention.   

You see, listening well requires turning our attention off of ourselves and onto others. We all have trouble at times focusing our attention where God wants it to focus.

In a world with ever-increasing distractions, listening well is key for all of us who desire to live our lives pleasing to Christ. But, listening involves removing the focus from ourselves, and valuing others as Jesus did; and verse 3 says exactly that… “in humility value others above yourselves.”

Now verses 3–5, describes Jesus as a model of humility.

First, we see that He listened to the will of His Father as described in v. 5–7. Notice how this humble position changes both His relationship to God and to others.

Listening and following Jesus’ example means we count others as more significant than ourselves (v. 3) and enables us to look out for the interests of others as we’re told in verse 4.

Listening well may mean silencing our phones and turning our full attention to those Christ is asking us to serve. 

Now verse 5 (which says), “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,” … places this listening in context: He’s talking about in our relationships with one another. … Our attitude towards others is to be like that which is also in Christ Jesus. 

Relationship is an important word. Living in true relationship requires humble sacrifice.

God sacrificed His Son Jesus for us. Can we not also sacrifice our thoughts and opinions at times by simply listening well? Listening without being presumptuous?

And Following Jesus, verse 9 says we are to exalt God and not ourselves.

Life Happens…

And if we scan on down to verse 14… it takes listening a step further. We are to listen well and resist grumbling or disputing. 

Let’s all be willing to heed our heavenly Father’s gentle prodding through Scripture and turn our focus on Him rather than our smart calendars, to-do lists, or even our desire to be heard.

And consider how well you listen to others and how your listening well represents Christ’s love through you.