“So faith comes from hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ.” (Romans 10:17,AMP)
Do you know and understand what you hear? Or do you listen to the first half of the sentence and assume you know the rest? Or maybe you simply aren’t interested in what’s being said? Or… from what is said, do questions pop into your mind? Thoughts of how to apply what’s being shared?
“…but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.” (Hebrews 4:2)
Granted I’m using only a part of this scripture without any context, but this phrase jumped out at me. Do you see the relationship that is stated – word and faith. And also that ‘profit’ comes from mixing the two, that without one the other isn’t fruitful in us.
What does this say to you? How would you blend the word and faith for you in your life? I tend to emphasize ‘listening’ but the more I think about my definitions, I’m not certain that my listening definition is really: hearing in action. Does it make any difference? Of course. We need to know and understand what’s being said in order to determine what it means and how to apply it.
According to Bakers Dictionary’s definition of hear/hearing, “… hearing is the means by which each believer receives the word. The opening scripture as interpreted by the Message Bible.
“But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? …
But not everybody is ready for this, ready to see and hear and act. …
The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ’s Word is preached, there’s nothing to listen to.” (Romans 10: 14-17)
Again the relationship between the word and faith. Therefore, HOW we hear is critical. Obviously, so is What we hear. As bearers of the word, we need to be alert not only to what we say and how we say it, but how others are hearing us.
Is hearing that step beyond listening? Is hearing the precursor to action? Perhaps we begin by listening – focusing, attentive to what is being said, asking for clarification, etc. – and then we hear. Does it matter? Yes. Because how we define and activate our words with faith helps us grow and become the workmen (2 Timothy 2:15) the Lord has intended for us to become.
