The Cost of Not Listening

(Matthew 17:1-8)

Peter totally missed the point and he also ended the chance of seeing the miracle that Jesus invited him, James and John to enjoy. Not that I would have done anything better or different. I wonder what they would have seen had he stayed silent. Maybe this was a beginning to what our immortal bodies will look like, or at least how Moses and Elijah looked.

Having said that, I would not wanted to be the one that was talking when God interrupted with A Greek imperative command, which basically means a very strong command. Just the words invoked terror and fear throwing the three of them on their faces. Then it was so intense that they lost time and did not record or know what happened next. Jesus rescued them with another Greek imperative strong command, “Rise, and have no fear.” (v. 7)

Maybe Peter was overwhelmed by what he saw. I know that I tend to open my mouth when I am nervous or uncomfortable. I am so Jealous of him. I would love to have seen Jesus in His Glory and to hear the voice of God, what an amazing experience. The kind of faith that would be generated by that one event is mind boggling. Yes faith comes from believing what we cannot prove, however, It would be nice to be a participant of such an amazing experience.

Many people today try to claim that all the actions or God are over now. That the God of the New Testament and the Old Testament has basically wound up the clock and let the world go on its own. This is not Biblical. All you have to do for proof that He still acts in mighty ways, is to read Biographies of Christians or follow Him in obedience. You can read about it or you can experience Him. Of course, God moves on His own clock in His own way not our ways, methods, and/or timeframes.

Just a few Scriptures to elaborate are:

Yes God still speaks to His children. However, like Peter we have to stop talking and listen. Although as Peter found out the hard way when God wants to be heard He is always heard!

Do you want stronger Faith? Do you want to hear from God? Do you want to be a “child of God,’ with all the things that come with it?

For a start lets look at what words God used:

Everything we need to know is very simply stated. who Jesus is and emphatically what we are to do regarding Him. He is the son of God, and we need to listen to Him. Did you answer “yes” to any of the above questions? Jesus is God’s Beloved Son who pleases Him so Listen to Him. Adoption is free and by faith, however, joy, peace, fulfilment, and abundant life come from “listening to Him.”

How much time do you give to God? Where does your money go? Answer those questions and you will know how to hear From God. “Jesus is the Good shepherd He Gave His Life for the sheep.“(John 10:11) He said this immediately following the famous quote, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10). How can we “listen to Him,” (v. 5) If we spend no time reading His words, and doing His commandments? Remember the phrase,” You get out what you put in?” How many times have you heard or used that phrase? Well it applies here!

The next thing that must be learned from this passage has to do with how we respond to listening to Him. We must acknowledge that these three Apostles were already “children of God,” Saved, Christians, or if you want Believers. This is not about how to earn salvation. Salvation is free! We cannot earn it or lose it we can only freely accept it through faith. The price of our Salvation was paid in full by Jesus who was fully God and fully man and 1/3rd of the Godhead.

This is all about what is next. We must be very careful with what we do and say in the name of God. Peter’s intentions were good, if not a little impulsive. He was trying to participate and please God’s son, Jesus. The problem is that when we open our mouth to speak our ears are shut off for the most part. Peter should have been listening instead of speaking, as James and John were. Maybe for this exact situation James wrote the following:

Quick to hear and slow to speak those words are so much easier to say than to follow. James devotes a large part of his letter to the dangers of the tongue. James goes even further to say!

Yes we must note that Peter was not trying to sin with his words. He did not bridle his tongue though, he should have been listening rather than speaking. His pride made him speak to try to feel a part of this amazing experience, when he should have just been learning from it.

I am reminded of Elijah when he was waiting to hear from God. God told him:

The answer that came next is one that I try to use to close my mouth when I want to hear from the Lord. Listen to how God spoke to Elijah:

God was not in the strong wind, or the earthquake, or the fire, He was in the sound of a low soft whisper. The thing about a whisper is that you cannot hear one while you are talking. You must be quiet to hear a whisper. So we should be “slow to speak and quick to hear” If we want to hear from God especially If He comes with the whisper.

So back to the transfiguration of Jesus the Son of God.

So had Peter been slow to speak and quick to listen, I wonder what he would have seen and been able to tell us about the experience that he missed by talking. The point is don’t miss out what Jesus has in store for our lives by acting on our own from our pride. Instead let’s listen and learn from Jesus. Then we can be as James puts it,

Let’s do better spending more time with the Lord and spend more time listening and doing what He says and does. If we do this we will not miss out on the amazing things that God has in store for us.

Do not miss out on abundant life.  Listen for His whispers and He will direct your paths.