A God-Listening Heart

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Dear Friend,

When Solomon was coronated as Israel's king, he became the pastor of God's flock. Suddenly, he realized he was now personally responsible to feed, protect, and guide God's sheep. In this moment of profound pastoral pondering, Solomon was struck by his own inadequacy.

He realized that, despite being tutored by Israel's greatest king, his father, David, he wasn't fully equipped to lead the Lord's sheep in His perfect paths, as his father did. He didn't have enough inside him to deal with the flood of puzzling controversies and life and death issues that would soon overflow him. Wisely, he recognized his deficiencies, and humbly, he acknowledged them: "I am but a little [young and inexperienced] child: I know not how to go out or come in" (1 Kings 3:7).

Then he prayed a prayer every pastor and spiritual leader should - really must - pray if he hopes to faithfully fulfill his responsibility to lead God's sheep in a way that pleases the Great Shepherd: "Give thy servant an understanding heart" (1 Kings 3:9). In the Hebrew, "understanding" means literally, "hearing."

The Message is excellent here. It conveys the essence of what Solomon was getting at: "Here's what I want: Give me a God-listening heart, so I can lead your people well . . . for who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?" (1 Kings 3:9, MSG). Now we've reached the deepest, innermost thought that prompted Solomon's famous petition: "Who, by their own strength, by their own wisdom, in their own human mercies, is capable of leading" your people, Lord? The answer?

No one! No person, however brilliant, well read, excellently educated, kind-hearted, devoted to Christ, and zealous to serve Him well has within himself (or herself) all the character assets needed to render leadership or guidance decisions that are perfect for God's people. No one! So, what can we do?

Call on God! As Solomon did, we should ask the Lord for a "God-listening heart"! By doing so, we are saying, "God, I don't know what message my people need to hear this week. I don't know what biblical text I need to give this brother or sister in pastoral counsel. I don't know what's about to happen in my country or city so I can tell my people how to prepare. I don't know the true underlying spiritual, moral, or attitude problems that have caused this falling out between two of the sheep in my flock. But I know you know all these things, and infinitely more. So, I need you to give me all these wise answers, these saving words of unerring divine wisdom, situation by situation, day by day. For that, I need a heart that, however imperfect I may be, hears your voice perfectly. Then I will faithfully pass on to your people the wisdom you speak into my heart. Thank you, Lord! Bless you!"

Joseph experienced the same profound pastoral pondering. It happened when he was suddenly brought before Egypt's monarch. The great Pharaoh asked if Joseph had it in him to solve his enigmatic dreams and, thus, Egypt's impending terrible crisis. Joseph's response shows he shared Solomon's heart: "It is not in me; [but] God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace" (Genesis 41:14).

With this wisely humble mindset, Joseph went on to lead not one but three "flocks": Egypt's pagan population, Jacob's hungry household, and the nations' needy millions. Joseph was imperfect in wisdom, just as we are. He said so himself: "It is not in me." But because his heart was humble, his pride broken, and his life prayerful, Joseph could hear God's perfect wisdom speaking. And, though he was not perfect, he relayed God's words of perfect wisdom to the world's desperately troubled and needy multitudes. The result?

They were saved in a devastating famine! And God was glorified, His redeemed people were rescued, an example for the ages was given us, and the way was opened for the Savior to eventually come through Jacob's preserved seed. All because one man, like Solomon, was wise enough to acknowledge the deficiency of his wisdom and throw himself on the sufficiency of God's wisdom. And how do we access that inexhaustible wisdom?

We do so in several simple ways easily available to every humble Christ follower:

* BY OBEDIENCE - God's wisdom doesn't come to those practicing the folly of sin. God's Word is full of God's wisdom and those who fill their hearts with God's Word and consistently obey it are perfectly preconditioned to hear His wise voice.

* BY PRAISE AND WORSHIP - Sacrifices of praise reconnect us with and draw us near the wise One. In the atmosphere of praise, He speaks clearly and faithfully whenever we need His guidance, reassurance, exhortation, or warnings.

* BY ABANDONING TO GOD'S WILL - When instead of stubbornly preferring one path or outcome over another we choose to want only what God wants, God always tells us what He wants.

* BY PRAYER - Solomon didn't receive God's wisdom automatically; he had to ask for it. And "ye have not, because ye ask not" (James 4:2).

* BY HUMILITY - Joseph and Solomon acknowledged they didn't have within themselves what it took. As long as I consider my wisdom sufficient, I will never acknowledge my wisdom deficiency.

* BY THE BIBLE - Study your Bible widely and deeply, because every time God speaks, He brings a biblical text, incident, character, or principle to mind that clarifies the issue you are facing. Or, if He speaks otherwise, His "still, small voice" will always agree with biblical texts and principles, and conform to God's ways, values, judgments, and will as declared in the Bible.

* BY PERSISTENCE - If wisdom doesn't come quickly, keep seeking . . . until it comes. Our wise Lord taught the wisdom of persistence: "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives . . ." (Luke 11:9,10 NLT).

My fellow spiritual leader - pastor, elder, mentor, teacher, or counselor - let us ponder this profound lesson. And persistently practice it! Christ's sheep need perfect wisdom - every time they ask, in every problem they face, in every trial that envelops them, against every adversary that defies them. Where will they get this perfect wisdom?

Say with me, "It is not in me." Pray with me, "Lord, give me a God-listening heart!" Offer thanks with me, "Lord thank you for giving me your wisdom!"

Saying, praying, offering thanks,

GregSig2

Greg Hinnant
Greg Hinnant Ministries

Last modified on Monday, 13 February 2023 13:14

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