I don’t want to hear it

“I don’t want to hear it!”

How often do we say these words when it comes to God’s word?

We’re going through some trouble in our lives, we read something in the Word that deals with the situation, and immediately reject it because we don’t like what it says.

I remember a friend of mine talking about how he once was having trouble with the words that were coming out of his mouth, and he knew it.

Because of this, he took pains to avoid reading Proverbs and James where he knew the Bible talks a lot about the tongue.

But then one day, in some obscure passage, God nailed him to the wall about the things he was saying.

To his credit, at that point, he repented.

But so often, we avoid or ignore the Word of God in our lives because we know it will sting, just as hydrogen peroxide will sting if you put it on an open wound.

The Israelites were like that. They told Micah,

“Do not prophesy…

Do not prophesy about these things; disgrace will not overtake us…

Is the Spirit of the Lord angry? Does he do such things?” (Micah 2:6–7)

In short, the answer to the question was “Yes, God does bring judgment on his people when they sin.”

And we will suffer the consequences for our sin, whether it’s a broken marriage, financial ruin, or whatever else it may be, if we don’t repent.

But there’s another side to all this as well. God said, “Do not my words do good to him whose ways are upright?” (Micah 2:7)

In other words, God doesn’t just speak to make our lives miserable. He doesn’t give us his commands to take our lives away. He speaks in order that we may have life.

That we may have a healthy marriage. That we may have enough to eat and drink and a place to stay. That we may have work that satisfies. That we may have a life that really works.

And though his words may sting us at times, they will also heal.

But if we leave the open wounds of our sins untreated by his Word, they will fester, get infected, and ultimately destroy us.

How about you? Are there words from God that you are trying to avoid in your life today? Are there words from God that you are closing your ears to?

Open your heart. Soften your heart. The words of God may wound, but they also heal. May healing begin in your life.