Please listen

So watch your step, friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it's still God's Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn't slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we're in this with Christ for the long haul. 

These words keep ringing in our ears:

Today, please listen: don't turn a deaf ear as in the bitter uprising.

For who were the people who turned a deaf ear? Weren't they the very ones Moses led out of Egypt? And who was God provoked with for forty years? Wasn't it those who turned a deaf ear and ended up corpses in the wilderness? And when he swore that they'd never get where they were going, wasn't he talking to the ones who turned a  deaf ear? They never got there because they never listened, never believed. 

Hebrews 3:12-19 The Message

What do you do when you see and hear things that don't align with God's word? As Christians lets make sure we don't turn a deaf ear, but rather that we take more time to listen to our Heavenly Father, listen to what He is saying, listen to His heart for His creation, listen for what He wants us to do. And then do what He asks us to do - obey.

God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it - no matter what.
Hebrews 4:12-13 The Message

Let's look this verse in the Amplified version...

For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, naked and defenseless to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do.
Hebrews 4:12-13 AMP

Sometimes we want to scream, 'God, can't you see what is going on here? What is happening?' We can feel helpless at a personal level, community level, national level and global level. 

But here in Hebrews we read, that ..

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. Hebrews 4:13 NLT

God does see what is going on in this world. He is not surprised by it. He sees the bigger picture. He knows the end game.

Our responsibility is to not lose sight of Him in this crazy world.  We, each one of us are accountable to God. We are accountable for not turning a deaf ear. We are accountable for listening to Him and following His direction. He loves us, every one of His creations. He sacrificed His Son so we could have life.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 NIV

When we don't know what to do or say, we can declare His Word, pray and wait for direction. 

Now that we know what we have - Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God - let's not let it slip through our fingers. Hebrews 4:14 The Message

Question for today, is there something that is troubling you, at any level, that causes you to wonder what God is doing or not doing? Today, as His people let's choose to keep our eyes fixed on Him, knowing that His banner over us is love.

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love [for love waved as a protecting and comforting banner over my head when I was near him]. Song of Solomon 2:4 AMP