What’s the Difference Between Listening to And Hearing the Word?
Hearing the Word
Jesus said that everyone who hears His words and keep His words will receive eternal life, so what’s the difference between listening to the Word of God and hearing the Word of God? Our Lord said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24). We can hear how to put on a parachute, but we are careful to really listen close if it means we might have to jump. We might hear things in the background, but if there’s engine noise on our plane, then we’re listening a little closer, right? That is, we’re really paying attention.
Listening to the Word
We know we have the pure, unadulterated Word of God in our hands today. Regarding the Old Testament, the author of Hebrews wrote, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets” (Heb 1:1), but also we have the New Testament, coming through the apostles and Jesus Christ, Who “in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” (Heb 1:2). Scripture is sufficient for us to saved and the Spirit efficient to reveal our need for Christ. If only we would listen and hear God’s voice.
