Message from Scripture: 9/18/2020

Our message from Scripture today is Acts 9:7, “The men who traveled with him stood  speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one,” and Acts 22:9, “Now those who were with me saw the light, but they did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.”

In both of these passages of Scripture, Luke relates Saul of Tarsus’ obedience to the gospel. In Acts 9, when the Lord appeared to him, there was a flash of light and the voice of the Lord speaking to him. Those travelling with him saw the light and heard the sound, but saw no one. In Acts 22, Luke tells us they did not hear the voice of the one speaking to Paul. There is no contradiction here, as the term for hear in Acts 9 means to hear something; they heard a sound. In Acts 22, the term for hear means to hear with understanding, or comprehension, which they did not. Only Paul knew exactly what was being said to him by the Lord. We all realize there is a difference in hearing something, and in hearing with understanding the meaning.

One may have a problem with their hearing, and not comprehend. One may not pay attention to what is said, and not comprehend. However, when it comes to God’s will, we must make sure we get what is said, as the word of God speaks to us about eternity. To gain faith in Christ and know how we should obey and live, we must hear clearly, distinctly. Whether by a verbally spoken word, or the word spoken in our mind, hearing through reading, we must hear God’s word to understand, to know what it means, to do what it says. Jesus said, “Therefore consider carefully how you listen” (Luke 8:18). James reminds us, “But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves” (1:22). He would go on to say, “But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out — he will be blessed in what he does” (1:25).

How blessed we are to have our own personal copies of Scripture, the Bible, and have access to it anytime we desire. Spend time really paying attention to what it says today, every day, and let it help shape us in the image of Christ, for today, for eternity. God bless.

Robert