Object Lesson

I had the privilege of speaking at an all day women’s retreat this past weekend.
It is always a privilege to be asked to speak.
It is a privilege to teach the Word of God to the women.
I do not take these opportunities lightly.

I knew where the retreat was to be held.
I had been there before.
However, I had not been to the particular building where this retreat was taking place.
My GPS was directing me.

I turned down a beautiful country road.
With all the rain we have been having, everything was lush and green.
I drove down the road a bit further until I was directed to turn.
The houses on the street were lovely.

The center, where the retreat was held, was tucked away in the trees at the end of the street.
As soon as I turned, I saw him.
A little boy, around eight years old, was on a skateboard.
He had a helmet on his head.

He never turned towards me.
He just kept weaving his skateboard this way and that along the road.
I was literally driving at a snail’s pace behind him.
He never saw me; he never turned in my direction.

I saw that there were white things in his ears.
He was wearing earbuds.
He never heard me approaching.
I knew that I had to drive extremely slow in case he decided to weave in my direction.

I crept along, waiting for him to notice me.
I did not want to pass him.
I did not want to startle him.
He was playing with some device as he was on his skateboard.

When he went way over to the left side of the road, I inched further along.
I hoped that he would see the front of my car as it got closer to him.
He was still intrigued with whatever was in his hand.
Finally, he must have seen movement.

He turned and saw me.
I wondered if he knew how long I had been driving behind him.
I cringed to think of what could have happened if he decided to weave one more time.
I was so grateful to God that the little boy finally realized I was behind him.

When I got up to teach the first of my three sessions, I told that story.
In the time I had to think before I got up to speak, I realized that God had taught me something.
God provided me with an object lesson.
I was so grateful for what He taught me.

For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. (Matthew 13:15)

I told the women about the little boy on the skateboard.
We do not want to be like that little boy.
We want our ears to be open so we can listen.
We want our ears to be open so that we can hear the Word of God.

God gave me an object lesson.
It is so important to listen.
It is so important that we do not allow anything to impede our listening.
We have to unplug our ears so we can hear.

We have to turn down the din of the world.
We have to turn down the volume of the lying voices the enemy uses to discourage us.
We have to preach the Gospel to ourselves so that we replay God’s Truth in our heads.
We have to open our ears so that we can hear His voice.

There are too many competing voices.
There are too many things that would have us weave this way and that.
There are too many devices vying for our attention.
We are so distracted, we have a difficult time listening.

The best way to show someone you love them is to listen to them. (Michael Card)
How well are we doing?
How well do we listen to the people God has put around us each day?
How well do we listen to God?

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?  And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! (Romans 10:13-15)

Do we have earbuds in our ears?
Is something hindering our ability to listen?
We have no trouble talking, but we have a very hard time listening.
We need help with our listening skills.

God the Father loves to help His children who call on Him.
The prayer that asks God to help us listen better, must delight God’s heart.
How can we believe in the one of whom we have not heard?
Take out the earbuds, remove the distractions, and listen.

God is speaking.

2 responses to “Object Lesson”

1. Gina, Congratulations on that new baby girl. As I was reading this post and you referenced Michael Card I wondered if you ever heard his CD of sweet lullabies called Sleep Sound in Jesus. When I wanted to give new parents a gift, I always gave them a copy. Christian Book Distributors in Boston may have a copy or Michael himself. Another gift I sometimes included was the Veggie Tale dvd, God Made You Special. Love on that baby girl for your readers too. How’s your wrist?

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   • Michele,
     I love Michael Card. I have ALL of his CDs and ALL of his books. I have given Sleep Sound In Jesus as a gift as well. Kindred spirits you and I. Thank you for your sweet words about our new granddaughter. She is a sweetheart. Now we have two little granddaughters to love. Thank you for your concern about my wrist. I am still wearing a wrist splint every day. Ultrasound is helping. If only I could keep my wrist immobile for a while! Blessings and JOY to you.
     Gina

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