i don't know about you, but i don't love my answer.

we must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.  

HEBREWS 2:1

Who are you listening to?  

When it matters, when everything’s on the line or up in the air, who are you listening to? I don’t know about you, but I don’t love my answer. I wanted it to be Jesus. But it wasn’t. It wasn’t my husband, my friends, the internet, or the experts. As I marinated on this question, what I came up with surprised me. When I get down to the brass tacks, you know who I’m listening to primarily? Me. Huh. I wouldn’t have thought that. And I wonder if maybe you’re the ultimate voice you’re listening to too. I wonder if you consult the experts or the people in your circle, maybe even Jesus. But ultimately, if you’re like me, you’re probably mainly listening to yourself, making decisions based on your own wisdom and assessment of the situation. 

And that, my friends, is a troubling discovery.  

It reminds me of Proverbs 21:2, “A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart.” I THINK my way is right, I think I’ve got it figured out, but the Lord sees my heart. He knows my selfish motivations and desires. He sees me acting on my own best advice, which is actually not the best. I mean, how often do I drift off on my own path, only to get into a whole heap of trouble? I end up kicking myself because I know there is a truly better way. 

I should be listening to Jesus.  

And that’s exactly what our verse tells us. It says, “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard.” If we turn the page back to Hebrews 1, we find out all the reasons WHY Jesus should be the ultimate authority in our lives. Let me put just a bit down here for you to read: 

…”in these last days [God] has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” — Hebrews 1:2-3        

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Wow. Talk about good reasons.  

Jesus, God’s own Son, has spoken to me. How then can I plug my ears? He is the Maker, Owner, Sustainer, and Rescuer of my soul. How is it that I prefer my way to his obvious authority and care over my life? He both knows and is over all of the inner workings and outcomes of humanity, including this singular human. Why then would I go to Google, or the YouTubers or the “influencers” over him? Still I scroll, looking for answers. Jesus loves me sacrificially, intimately, and fully. How can I turn my back on his obvious concern for me? Why am I not listening? Surely when I think of it, I must put my hand over my mouth like Job and declare myself unworthy (Job 40:4).   

But it’s never too late to listen.  

This is the great discovery of the Christian life: Jesus’s mercy never fails. He is always willing to pull us back on course. We are prone to wander, but Jesus is faithful to restore us. And this, my friends, is precisely why this verse is here. It's speaking truth we need to hear, warning both the reader and the writer to “Pay attention! Stay on course!” So, I’m preaching our verse to myself, saying, “Self, pay the most careful attention to what you’ve heard. Don’t drift away from Jesus. Paddle right towards him.” For with him (and him only) there is thriving and joy and goodness.

WHO ARE YOU LISTENING TO?

WHAT WOULD A PATTERN OF LISTENING MORE CLOSELY TO JESUS LOOK LIKE IN YOUR LIFE?

Thanks for reading,