“hanging on to every word He said”
We live in a world today, one where those who are societal influencers help determine what people purchase, follow, and even believe. It brings revenue to those who are influencing and calls on those who are being influenced to follow. As we walk through the time the Lord has provided us to live, we see both: the way society changes and does not change, a repetition of history. In many instances, the repeating nature of history can help society improve; however, in some cases, humans never learn that which we need to know MOST.
God wrote history in advance so no one would miss the arrival of the Savior.
God Did.
The Word of God is the LORD’S record of how the world came to be, how man entered the scene, what became of man because of his personal decisions, and the consequences of man’s actions. Additionally, God also wrote history in advance so no one WHO CHOOSES TO BELIEVE would miss the arrival and SAVING GRACE of the SAVIOR.
“God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles
(The Letter to the Hebrews 2: 4 NASB)
and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.”
- What helps us stay attentive to the Bible’s teachings?
- What hinders our attentiveness and causes us to drift, to become lukewarm?
During the time of His ministry on earth, Jesus said—
“Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling, saying to them,
(The Gospel According to Luke 19: 45-48 NASB)
“It is written, ‘AND MY HOUSE SHALL BE A HOUSE OF PRAYER,’ but you have made it a ROBBERS’ DEN.”
And He was teaching daily in the temple;
but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people were trying to destroy Him,
and they could not find anything that they might do,
for all the people were hanging on to every word He said.”
Jesus quoted the prophet Jeremiah, reminding His listeners that they are to be attentive to God’s teachings, to trust in the testimony of God Himself, and to not be influenced by the world. Look closely at what was occurring on that particular day:
- Jesus entered the temple.
- Jesus drove out the temple sellers.
- Jesus quoted prophecy (biblical history) written years before that day.
- Jesus knew the religious leaders sought to kill Him.
- Jesus was also aware of the LORD’S timing, knowing specifically when God would allow Jesus to die on the cross.
Jesus taught the people, and (as He did) “all the people were hanging on to every word He said.”
- We are called to study the Bible, to know the Word of God.
- We are called to prayer, to yield to God’s Spirit.
- We are called to meditation, to sense the LORD’S direction.
- We are called to memorization, to the internal yielding into God’s Word.
- We are called to action, to walk in obedience unto the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.
When we first believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, we became God’s children, and He sealed us with His Holy Spirit. Thus, we became the living, breathing, walking, talking temple of God, for His Spirit leads us from within our being.
We are NOT called to live as “lukewarm” individuals, and in fact, “lukewarm living” is exactly the opposite of what God has called His children to do or be.
We are NOT to forsake the study of the Bible, but to be EAGER, ATTENTIVE, and PASSIONATE, desiring to see Jesus with all our being, for God’s Word is clear in the consequence of living “lukewarm.”
Recall what Jesus said to the church in Laodicea—
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot;
(The Revelation to John 3: 14-16 NASB)
I wish that you were cold or hot.
So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold,
I will spit you out of My mouth.”
- God knows how fickle mankind can be and how quickly our hearts can turn away from Truth. Therefore, we must NOT neglect our spiritual growth.
- We must NOT leave our first love because we have been called to walk worthy of our calling to Jesus AND to contend NOW for the faith so that we do NOT drift away from His Teaching.
“For this reason [for those who have inherited, who have received the Lord’s salvation]
(The Letter to the Hebrews 2: 1-3 NASB)
we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard,
so that we do not drift away from it.
For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty,
how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?
After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard.”
Since the LORD has created us to live in this current generation, and because throughout time, there have been “influencers” who were societal influencers, let us walk through the time the Lord has provided, remembering Who orchestrated, wrote, and ordained time and space.
GOD DID!
The Word of God is the LORD’S record of HIS-STORY!
- GOD wrote history in advance, foreshadowing the arrival of HIS SAVIOR and
- God wrote history for the future, foreshadowing the second coming of JESUS.
GOD DID THIS FOR MANKIND!
THEREFORE, WE CAN CHOSE TO BELIEVE IN THE SAVING GRACE OF JESUS, THE SAVIOR AND REDEEMER.
May we choose this day to be HIS People, to be “the people were hanging on to every word He said.”