The Scripture for today is Matthew 17: 1-9 (NIV) 17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
“Listen to Him!” God directing the disciples to recognize that his Son, Jesus Christ, is standing before them – majestic, holy, exalted, worthy of their worship. Jesus, transfigured, a glimpse of his glory dazzling them. Jesus, HE WHO MUST BE HEARD!
I think of times when one of my little ones desired my attention and would grab my face with two tiny hands and turn me to face them – away from whatever distraction was taking my attention from them. “Mommy – Listen!” They knew that if I focused my eyes on them and looked into their face – they would be heard. Their grasping hands also stopped me giving voice to other things, silencing me and allowing their voice to be heard. “Mommy – Listen!” I was listening, focusing, giving my full attention to my child and in doing so, acknowledging their worth and importance in the moment. My child, who in the moment, MUST BE HEARD!
Earlier this evening, I spent several hours talking with my precious sister of the heart. We poured out our concerns to each other – concerns for our children, beloved friends, extended family - our list was lengthy. We shared tears, held hands, prayed and connected in a powerfully intimate way. “Sister – Listen to Me!” We heard the deepest prayers of each other’s hearts – we acknowledged each other’s worth and importance in those moments. I am humbled by that trust and awed by the beauty of sharing such intimacy. In those moments, praying together, we were two trusting women seeking their Savior; two women who MUST BE HEARD! And he listened. Our Savior, Jesus, accepted our grasping hands turning his face to ours and in those moments he listened to his daughters. He acknowledged our worth and importance as he looked upon us with love - hearing our tearful prayers, soothing our anxious hearts and filling us with his Spirit. Beautiful Savior, present with US.
Jesus, my Jesus, listens to ME! He is never too busy or distracted. He pours his loving kindness and compassion into me. He guides my steps along the path. He provides for my every need. BUT what of me? Do I LISTEN to HIM? When he speaks to me – do I turn from my distractions and acknowledge HIS worth and value? Do I listen when HE longs to tell me about his children – the precious people that he will place in my path for me to love and serve? Will I LISTEN for the sound of his voice in HIS WORD? Will I teach others to LISTEN for his call to turn their hearts from this wicked world to HIS love, compassion, mercy and majesty? Jesus, my Jesus, WHO MUST BE HEARD!
Father in Heaven, teach me to listen to Jesus just as you taught the disciples. Close my mouth and open my ears that I might receive his wisdom, compassion, mercy, guidance and love. Give me just a glimpse of his majesty so that I, too, can be awed and worship him. Amen.
Kelly