Stop and listen

Revelation 2:7 (NLT)
7 Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

This verse is repeated several times in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 as Christ speaks to the various churches. It was given at the end of the verses directed to the specific churchs. The purpose was to remind them of what had been just said and to also remind the church to listen to the Spirit of God as He speaks to them instead of listening to their own thoughts and voices.

Is it important to listen to God? Of course, but many of us think we are listening when instead we are busy doing other things. In Jeremiah 25:3-4, the prophet Jeremiah declared the following, “For the past twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah, until now—the Lord has been giving me his messages. I have faithfully passed them on to you, but you have not listened. Again and again the Lord has sent you his servants, the prophets, but you have not listened or even paid attention.” Jeremiah was the last major prophet to speak to the Israelites for God. Jeremiah passed on message, after message for 23 years; yet no one was listening. The culture these people knew was about to be removed from existence and yet they were not hearing the message God prepared for them. Twenty three years and no one was listening! To those who believe in Christ STOP and LISTEN. It is time to hear what God has to say and act accordingly. Do not be like the churches listed in Revelation who needed to be reminded they should listen to the Spirit of God as He spoke to them.