Are We Listening to God?

It happens to all of us. When it comes to our relationship with God, we all like to make things harder than they ‘need’ to be. We put obstacles in front of ourselves and others that God never put Himself. God already told us what we needed to do, but are we listening?

At that time, there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nikodemos, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nikodemos said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The Spirit blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, and you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nikodemos said to him, “How can this be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand this? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen; but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”

John 3.1-15

Long before Christ entered Jerusalem on a donkey and before the crowds began to gather around Him, He told Nikodemos exactly what was going to happen. He was going to be crucified for our salvation. He was then going to return to Heaven after He rose from the dead.

It seems so basic when you hear today’s Gospel lesson just a few days after Holy Week. Last week we heard Nikodemos help prepare Christ for burial. It was Nikodemos who defended Jesus in front of the tribunal. I guess he was listening after all, but are we listening?

Are we willing to defend Christ to our friends, let alone a court? The other day I suggested that we still have work to do in our faith. I encouraged you to keep praying. Today I encourage you to stand up for Christ AND your faith. Don’t allow Pascha to ‘come and go’ without listening.

Don’t wait until NEXT Great Lent and Holy Week to take your faith seriously. Christ said very clearly, if we were listening, that He was going to return without notice. He was going to return like a thief in the night. Don’t get caught off guard ‘just because’ Holy Week is over.

Allow Holy Week and Pascha to refresh your faith for the long run rather than just a brief relief from the stress of life for one week. Allow Holy Week and Pascha to inspire you to be like the wise virgins and have your lamps prepared every day, not just once per year.

God and His Church said everything last week we need to hear to Live A New Life In Christ. Are we listening? I pray that we are.