Attentive Instruments

Let the King of Glory fill you. Lift up attentive eyes to the Lord and listen humbly with your ears. Do what He says and walk with an obedient heart.

“When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. But Jehosheba…took Joash…put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed. He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled the land…Station yourselves around the king, each of you with weapon in hand. Stay close to the king wherever he goes. Jehoiada brought out the king’s son…and proclaimed him king. Jehoiada then made a covenant between the Lord and the king and people that they would be the Lord’s people…All the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols…All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm…Joash was seven years old when he began to reign.” 2 Kings 11:1-21

Have you ever known people with a passive faith?  Have you known people who might go to church twice a year but do not seem committed to Christ? Have you known people who waver between religions? Being half-hearted or hopping on board with what is culturally popular does not honor God. 

When you read the story, you see that the people who serve God are attentive. The text says to station yourself around the king, stay close, be on your guard, and do not let anything come between you and your covenant with the King. Would you describe your faith journey as active and attentive? Do you have anything you could remove to create more space to draw closer to God? 

There are several heroes in this story. There is an aunt who, by faith, stands firm and protects a young baby. There are people who remained nameless but who took their place as protectors of the vulnerable and helped usher peace into the city. Notice that no one writes stories about the person who sits at home on their couch. There is a reason that we have life. We were made to listen to God, love Him and others, and lift up His name by how we live attentively. 

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob. Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. “Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty he is the King of glory.” Psalms‬ 24:1-10

Looking and listening. These are themes for today. God wants us to learn to see that everything is His. We are simply stewards of the resources and strengths He gives. David was a king who had great wealth, but never saw what he had as his own. One of the ways to free yourselves from the consumerism of our culture is not to consider what you have as your own. It is much easier to be generous when you see what you have as a gift. 

David said the one who wants to draw close to God must have clean hands in a consecrated heart. Jesus said the same thing. He said blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God. Do you want to see God? Let the Holy Spirit cleanse your heart and commit fully to Christ. 

Making room for the Almighty takes intentionality. It is an active pursuit. David said seek. Righteous seeking involves searching with an expectant heart, active eyes, and attentive ears. Is that your approach? Or have you allowed this season of life to make you passive? 

“An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives. One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys. The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. To answer before listening— that is folly and shame. From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs‬ 18:1-21

What does wisdom want to teach you about how to live today?  Where could you use encouragement and where could you use correction? Solomon calls out three issues that can impact our intimacy with God. 

Wisdom said it is foolish to pursue lazy or selfish lives, to start quarrels or gossip, and pridefully speak before listening. Have we been guilty of any of these? We live in a world where airing your own opinions is elevated and listening seems to be a lesser priority. What would happen if we flipped the script on how culture communicates? 

Wisdom tells us that we have the power of life and death with our time. The same is true with our eyes and ears. We were made to worship God with our senses. The one who pursues holiness uses their eyes, ears, and heart to seek God and speak life. Are you honoring God with all your senses? 

“Hear the word of the Lord, all…who come through these gates to worship the Lord. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words…do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow…do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave…look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless…I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen…Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you. But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.” Jeremiah 7:2-24

How many times does God have to tell us to listen before we listen? Have you ever stopped to think about why we do not listen and obey God all day, every day? God gave insights into some of our stumbling blocks. 

He said you listen to deceptive words, you have idols in your life, you do not focus on helping the people in need, and you are stubborn. None of us like to be called out. None of us like to be corrected. Do you hear the compassion in God‘s voice when He invites us to turn to Him? He does not force us to follow Him. He lets us choose and He promises that it is what is best for us. 

“As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down…Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. Stand firm, and you will win life. People will faint from terror…At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near…Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away…Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke‬ 21: 6-36

Jesus' words should have authority in our lives. They should matter. Look at the words He spoke. He said listen, watch, stand firm, lift, be careful, watch, and pray. These are active words that incorporate the call of every passage today. 

He does not make any room for people to be disobedient, distracted, or disengaged. He calls us to see that the kingdom has come and the King is near. He calls us to open our hearts so the King of glory may come in. See the connections in the texts. Guard your heart. Purify your life. Stay close to the King. Do not become passive in your faith, stubborn in your heart, or numb to His voice. The Holy Spirit works best through humble and attentive hearts.

Are you willing to let the Lord search and correct you? Is there an idol that has your affection? Is there pride that needs purifying? Any selfishness that needs resetting? The Father does not expose these things to shame you. He reveals so He can heal.  As we surrender every corner of our lives to Christ, our eyes begin to see, our ears begin to hear, and our senses become instruments used to empower us. 

Be watchful, steadfast, and faithful. Listen before you speak and speak life when you do. Seek to serve and help those in need. Stand firm in Christ for one day you will see Him face to face. The King of glory has come and will come again. He alone is worthy of your full attention and wants you to see He is already working ahead of you.