"I'm listening." It's what everyone wants to hear when they have something to say; and hopefully something we're willing to say when others need to talk. However, listening isn't always a good thing. The trick is in listening to the things that are beneficial to us, and ignoring the things that are false and/or harmful. Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? Yeah, it's not. I admit I've struggled with this off and on for years. (decades?)
The thoughts have bounced all over the place about where to go from here. I didn't want to sound too "preachy", but I also didn't want to sound like it shouldn't be taken seriously. Listening to the lies that are all around us can cause more damage than we realize. I'm still learning and struggling with this. I used to think that when I got older I'd have this under control, but now I know this is a life-long struggle. Some lies cause more damage than others.
However, the solution is the same as it's always been: Faith. When we hold on to those things we know to be true; the things that come from God, the easier it is to tell what is a lie. I confess that I've forgotten that more often than I care to admit. But I got a reminder today at church. The sermon was on the Supremacy of Christ in Colossians 1:15-23; and being reconciled to God thru Christ. However, there is one phrase that struck me as also being helpful in combating against the lies that Satan wants us to believe: "if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel." Part of being reconciled to God is Him helping us to not listen to the lies.
Thanks to Pastor Russell for the message. He'll be happy to know I was listening.
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