Do you have ears to hear?

John 10:22-30

The Temple Cult leaders of His time confronted Jesus.
They would not believe that Jesus was the one sent by God to reform the faith.

They would not believe Jesus' actions because they did not value them.  They were not about healing, restoring people to a good life within their community or empowerment.  They were about misleading the people so that they could have power over them, exploit them for their own material gain and status from their positions.  They did not believe in Jesus or Jesus' Way.  They would not hear what Jesus taught or commanded, or see what Jesus did as an example for the living of Kingdom values in the world.  They did not know Jesus or His Agape Love, or His Grace.  They knew only the empire values they had adopted for themselves, while giving lip service to God.  They knew everything but Kingdom values.  They ignored Jesus as Lord of their lives.

And how about us?  Do we hear what Jesus taught and commanded as authoritative guidance for our lives in Him?  Do we accept Jesus only as Savior and not as Lord of our lives?  Do we hear Jesus' message of Agape Love and Grace and apply it to how we live in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now?  Do we see what Jesus did and emulate that in the world around us with those who God loves, here and now?  Do we give Jesus lip service while ignoring His Kingdom values and, indeed pursue empire values because it provides us with more power, wealth and status, even at the expense of those who God loves?  Is it Jesus' voice that we recognize and follow?  Does Jesus know us because we follow Jesus in how we live His commanded Agape Love in the world as Jesus did?

Do you truly believe that Jesus is the one who was sent by God to guide you in life?
Or do we claim to be people of God, but ignore Jesus, Jesus' Word and Jesus' Way?

Do we have eyes to see?  Do we have ears to hear?
Do we know, love and follow Jesus?  Really?

Is it OUR time of re-dedication, not of the physical temple, but of the temple that is US, as people who live within God and within whom God lives?

Are you listening?  Can you hear me?  Do you have ears that hear?

Pastor Jamie