Hear the Word of God
Date: August 9, 2023
I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional.
B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Voice and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
S - Summarize and Share
You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?
B - Bible Verse: "He replied, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.'" Luke 11:28
L - Listen for God's Word and pray: Dear Heavenly Father, as I come before you today, I pray for open ears and a receptive heart. Speak to me through your Word, and give me the wisdom and strength to apply it to my life. Help me understand the significance of hearing and obeying your teachings. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
E - Explore the History and Meaning: This verse is spoken by Jesus himself during his ministry. He had been teaching about various spiritual matters, including prayer, and a woman from the crowd blessed his mother, Mary. In response, Jesus highlights the true blessedness, which lies in hearing God's Word and putting it into practice. Jesus is emphasizing the importance of both hearing and obeying God's Word. It's not just about passively listening, but about actively engaging with the teachings and applying them to our lives. True blessings come to those who not only hear the Word but also live it out in their actions and decisions.
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases:
Hearing God's Word: It involves attentive listening, understanding, and internalizing the teachings. Obeying God's Word: It means applying the teachings in our daily lives, aligning our actions with God's will.
S - Summarize and Share:
As I said in the Explore the History section, this passage takes place when Jesus is teaching, and a woman from the crowd calls out, expressing how blessed His mother must be to have given birth to Him and nursed Him. Now, you might expect Jesus to respond by emphasizing His mother's blessedness, but instead, He takes this opportunity to point to something even deeper.
His reply is like a gentle redirection, as He emphasizes that true blessings come not only from physical relationships but from something much more profound. He tells the woman that blessed are those who not only hear God's Word but also put it into practice. It's like Jesus is reminding us that our connection to Him goes beyond earthly bonds; it's about embracing His teachings and living them out.
Imagine the impact this had on the woman and the crowd. It's as if Jesus is saying, "Yes, my mother is indeed blessed, but the truest blessings come from having a heart aligned with God's Word." This encounter shows us that Jesus valued spiritual connections and a deep, active faith over mere physical ties.
For us today, it's a reminder that our relationship with Jesus isn't confined to rituals or titles. It's about engaging with His teachings, absorbing His truths, and letting them shape our lives. We need to take this lesson to heart. Just like that woman in the crowd, we need to recognize that true blessings come from our connection to Christ through His Word. Let's not just hear it; let's embrace it, live it, and let it transform us from the inside out.
Bible Cross References:
James 1:22 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
Psalm 119:105 - "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."
Matthew 7:24 - "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."
John 13:17 - "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."