Listening to God

 오늘의 말씀

 

잠언 5:5-8 (쉬운성경, NASB)

 

5. 그녀의 두 발은 죽음을 향하고, 그녀의 걸음은 곧장 무덤으로 향한다.

Her feet go down to death, Her steps take hold of Sheol.

 

6. 그녀는 생명의 길에는 관심이 없고, 굽은 길을 걸으면서도 그 길이 굽었는지 깨닫지 못한다. 

She does not ponder the path of life; Her ways are unstable, she does not know it.

 

7. 그런즉, 내 아들아, 내 말을 듣고, 내가 말하는 것에서 벗어나지 마라. 

 Now then, my sons, listen to me And do not depart from the words of my mouth.

 

8. 그런 여자를 멀리하고 그녀의 집 근처에는 얼씬거리지도 마라. 

Keep your way far from her And do not go near the door of her house, 

 

 

ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME? Now hear this! Parents often use such statements with their children. Why? Probably because the parents want to be certain the children understand what is being said (and often because the parents are just a bit frustrated with their children's seeming inability to hear and obey). As children get older, parents often feel a greater sense of urgency in teaching their children to be responsible adults and faithful Christians. After all, the world in which they live is rife with dangers and temptations. Parental communication sometimes deteriorates into a series of  "do this" and "don't do that" statements. Because children tire of listening to parental warnings and directives, they sometimes rebel. Proverbs, written in part by wise King Solomon, contains a wealth of wisdom the writers wanted to pass on to subsequent generations. In this verse, the writer begs, "listen to me." He wants to emphasize the seriousness of the warnings he's giving to his readers. He's pleading, "Please take this advice to heart." Like human parents, God wants the best for His children. He communicates through the Bible, through other people, and through prayer. Still, His children rebel, or perhaps they just don't get it. Because God is a loving parent, He never stops trying to help His children understand His will for their lives. God always listens. Sometimes He needs to say, "Listen to Me."

 

Emily M. Akin

 

Pray for God's guidance on a specific matter and give listening equal time.

 

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