Gospel Reflections #608: Do we have a listening mind?

Matthew 7:28 “When Jesus had finished speaking these words, the crowd was greatly astonished at his teaching."

What kind of person's speech moves us?

We may be moved by the content of the speech itself, but we can also be moved by the speaker's manner of speaking, facial expressions, gestures, and so forth, which can change the way we perceive the content.

No matter how correct and clear a speaker may be, if we are uncomfortable with the speaker's personality, something unconsciously prevents us from accepting what he or she has to say.

On the other hand, if the speaker has good publicity skills, we unconsciously accept that he or she is a good person and is saying the right things.

In Jesus' case, it seems to me that he creates an atmosphere in which he prepares our listening system and we can humbly accept what he says while thinking within the limits of our thinking ability.

And because the Holy Spirit is also at work there, we are likely to be amazed as Jesus' message seeps into our hearts and gives us healing, encouragement, and hope.

The Holy Spirit is working in us so that we receive Jesus' words not with our eyes or ears, but with our hearts.

If you don't understand the words of Jesus, don't give up, ask the Holy Spirit to help you.

Jesus' words have life in them, and we want to make sure we receive that life.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.