Let’s pray! Jesus, we step forward in faith as we listen to the word You have for us this day from 2Timothy 4.  We open our faith and our hearts to you this day! Help us listen well! Amen

2Timothy 4:1-4 “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: ² Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage —with great patience and careful instruction. ³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

“They will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear…” That is the line that really grabbed me out of this reading. 

One thing that I have so appreciated about the journey Point of Grace is on via our Sunday message series in Matthew is that we have to consider everything in Matthew that Jesus is saying --- not just the “easy to hear” things or the things we understand.  Like this section covered last Sunday about Jesus’ harsh “Woes!” to those people who did not embrace Him by faith.  It would be easy to skip over that section!  My “itching ears” would rather probably go to other sections of scripture which tell me what I think I need to hear – what I can more easily understand!

I believe I can have “itching ears”.  The kind Paul is talking to Timothy about!  “Itching ears” are ears that think they know best what they need to hear – what God needs to say to them- so they will simply search around till they hear a voice-teaching-truth that pleases them and listen - calling that voice god’s voice!  You might have to read that last sentence again! 

In this scenario “itching ears” are put in charge of the message – the message of god!  Paul is saying the same thing that John the Baptist said and Jesus said!  God must be in charge of God’s message – the hearer can’t be in charge of the message – ears don’t talk –  ears must listen!  MY ears must listen to what God wants to say – not what I want to hear!

One of the greatest comforts that faith in Christ brings me is the reality that I am not in charge – God is! And that the God that is in charge loves me beyond anything I can imagine!  So today Jesus I step out in faith and say “You are in charge of me!”  I will not listen to what my ears want to hear but what You want to say – Your voice is in charge not my ears.  I surrender to You to give me all I need this day in my spirit, body, heart and mind to follow You today!  Oh Jesus “Give me ears to hear” – I receive those ears this day – ears that listen not ears that talk!  Amen

“Surrendered ears” sounds like a great reality for me to walk in today!   

What about you!  How is this conversation and this text of scripture landing in your ears today?  I would love to hear about what you are hearing from God? 

delton