Biblical perspective on Active Listening (Luke 6:27-49, 8:8,18)

Active Listening helps us understand and demonstrate compassion towards obstinate people. Active listening helps us see clearly and truly help people. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart. Obeying Jesus in relationships puts us on firm ground and leads to greater understanding.

Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” - Luke 8:8

“So pay attention to HOW you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” Luke 8:18

Luke 6:27-49

• But to you who are willing to listen (or who are listening NIV), I say, love your enemies!...You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. (or Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. NIV) Luke 6:27,36
• Don't judge, give and receive...then you will see well enough (then you will see clearly NIV) to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. Luke 6:37,42
• ...What you say flows from what is in your heart. Luke 6:45
• ...comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it...stands firm - Luke 6:47-48

Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.”  - Luke 9:35

“Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.”  - Luke 9:44

Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. - Luke 10:39

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Prayer: Urgent, continual reliance on the grace of God (Acts 13:42-52)

What I'm doing this morning, I do every morning: Do your best to present yourself to God, approved after being tested. I want to be a good and noble vessel, ready and useful to God. The purpose of this time is to move up and see clearly how I can best serve the Lord. Some days are better than others. Today I'm excited to help my work colleagues advance their capabilities and succeed. It's SALT and LIGHT today. My prayer is that we are what God has called us to be, holy His. I'm grateful for this Day 4 of 40Days (Acts 13:42-52).

Acts 13:42-43) Paul and Barnabas, large fan club of Jews: urgent, continual reliance on the grace of God

44-45) Next week most of city came to hear the word of the Lord, Jews jealous, slandered them

46-47) bold declare: first Jews who rejected God's word, judging themselves unworthy of eternal life - now for Gentiles

‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth. Isa 49:6

 - Message: The living Word of God engages and intrigues us right where we are

 - Gently instruct those who oppose the truth (2 Timothy 2:25)

48-49) Gentiles VERY glad, THANKED the LORD - all who were chosen for eternal life became believers, spreading the message

50) Jews stirred up influential religious leaders, ran Paul and Barnabas out of town

51-52) Shook dust from feet as sign of rejection, to Iconium - disciples filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

Daily Reading for Personal Growth, 40 Days with God

40 daily Scripture readings that illustrate the character of God and the nature of faith.

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The Most High doesn’t live in temples made by human hands (Acts 7:48, Isaiah 66:1-5)

I've been in "a mood" from hearing that my Friend will not be able to participate in ministry with me. He's disqualified himself via past choices, however, I firmly believe it would be good for him to join me. As God often does, he brings the right counsel at the perfect time to help me through my "moods" and brings me into clarity. It is well with my soul. Thank you Lord. I can hardly believe it but this is my first post with the tag, "Rejection" - it's not the first rejection, but surprising to me I haven't touched on it sooner - must be my positive disposition.

In the title LORD Most High, the Hebrew words are Elohim Yahweh. We describe objects of exaltation as being “higher” than we are: higher in rank, in title, in beauty, in position, or in intelligence. Even authority is referred to in terms of height, from top-level management down to the common worker. Height conveys the idea of superiority in power, strength, and authority. So God Most High or LORD Most High means that there is no god, idol, or created being that should be worshiped or exalted above Yahweh, the LORD, because He is superior in every way. - Why is God described as God Most High?
 - Lord you are my God, and I will every praise you alone.

In Acts 7 Stephen is warning the people who are mistaken in their religion, he does this through the teaching of the prophets in the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 7:2,3-55,51,55

https://biblehub.com/isaiah/66-4.htm is a great resource.
Good News Translation
So I will bring disaster upon them--the very things they are afraid of--because no one answered when I called or listened when I spoke. They chose to disobey me and do evil."

• People refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. - 1 Samuel 8:19
• Samuel was giving them God's word, not his own ideas.
• And he did evil in the sight of the LORD by following the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out. - 2 Kings 21:2
• He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger. 2 Kings 21:6
•  Today I see divination, consulted mediums and spiritists as when we listen to music
•  Music is extremely influential, passive hearing is very powerful

Now it gets personal:

• Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand, Proverbs 1:24, 
• I believed God, therefore I spoke (God's grace reaches for you)
• So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. Proverbs 1:31
• For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. Proverbs 1:32
• What the wicked dreads will overtake him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. Proverbs 10:24

Wowza, thank you Lord that rejection comes with promises of blessing and justice.  https://biblehub.com/isaiah/66-5.htm,

• They replied, "You were born in utter sin, and you are instructing us?" And they threw him out. John 9:34
• If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. John 15:18
• They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. John 16:2
• It's okay to be rejected when you're doing the right thing, don't dispare anymore - God knows and will comfort you
• Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10
• You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:22
• When Jesus said this, all His adversaries were humiliated. And the whole crowd rejoiced at all the glorious things He was doing. Luke 13:17

Thank you Lord, you have ministered to my soul. Bless you Lord, thank you for coming into my life and making me whole. Today, help me live by your truth and bring healing through my hands and feet. In Jesus name, AMEN!

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