On the day scheduled for this purpose, many people came to the place where he was staying. From morning until evening, he explained and testified concerning God’s kingdom and tried to convince them about Jesus through appealing to the Law from Moses and the Prophets. Some were persuaded by what he said, but others refused to believe. They disagreed with each other and were starting to leave when Paul made one more statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke correctly when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet,
Go to this people and say:
You will hear, to be sure, but never understand;
and you will certainly see but never recognize what you are seeing.
This people’s senses have become calloused,
and they’ve become hard of hearing,
and they’ve shut their eyes
so that they won’t see with their eyes
or hear with their ears
or understand with their minds,
and change their hearts and lives that I may heal them.
“Therefore, be certain of this: God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles. They will listen!” Paul lived in his own rented quarters for two full years and welcomed everyone who came to see him. Unhindered and with complete confidence, he continued to preach God’s kingdom and to teach about the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 28:23-31, CEB)
They will listen.
Do we listen? Or are we so caught up in what we learned or were told as youth that we can not say that was the best we could do then? We have learned more and moved on, but if I say that part of my childhood was a lie or wrong, then what else was? We are so hung up on having it right. Knowing we are right. Maybe we need to just love.
We need to open our eyes and actually see.
We need to listen to hear and not respond.
We need to understand and know it’s ok to change our mind.
Being right isn’t always the best thing.
Let’s love while we wait and work for inclusion, mercy, and justice for all.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 