Matthew 17:4-8 – “Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified. 7 And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.”  8 And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.”  NASB

I know that my title is not exactly how this is phrased but the meaning is clear.  Peter, in his exuberance and ecstasy, was blabbering about what they could and should do.  His ramblings and exhortations were heard in the Throne Room of Heaven. 

It is clear that the Father was not particularly overjoyed with Peter, at the moment, so He spoke from heaven and said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”  Before you protest notice that He said of Jesus “with whom I am well-pleased” and that is in contrast to Peter’s ravings.  He also said, “LISTEN TO HIM!”  In East Texas vernacular – “Hush up and listen!”  So, to me, it is clear that the Father was essentially telling Peter and the other disciples “Shut Up and Listen!”

I know you have heard it said, “God gave us two ears and one mouth so we should listen twice as much as we speak.”  There is a ton of truth in that adage and one that we would do well to adopt into our lives.  Most of us, too frequently, want to be heard rather than to hear!  We have our revelation and want others to hear it.  We feel our importance or need our significance to be validated and feel that to do so we must be heard so we speak. 

I have been in a number of conversations where the other person was so anticipating their opportunity to speak, they failed to hear what was being said, as they planned their response.  That negates effective communication and opens the door for misunderstanding and misinterpretation.  Here God is telling Peter and the others – “Hearing what Jesus has to say is far superior to anything that you might say or think at the moment so LISTEN!”

It would behoove all of us to be calculated in our speaking and careful in our listening.  I believe that if we are to be effective in communicating truth, we have to be not only willing but adept at listening.  It is important to HEAR what is being said not what we think about what is being said.  There can be and often is a world of difference between the two. 

It reminds me of the saying that I heard once in a conference on communication where the person speaking said, “I know you believe you think you understand what you thought you heard me say, but I am not sure you realize that what you thought you heard is not what I said or meant.”  Do you see where there could be a problem if we assume or presume, we know what is being said without actually HEARING what is being said?  That is so true with the Word and things of God – We need to HEAR GOD not what we thought or wanted Him to say!

Therefore, learn that there are times when you need to just be silent and still and LISTEN!  The Holy Spirit will effectively communicate God’s Word, Will, and Way to your heart if you will LISTEN!

God bless you as you go through your day! 

Addendum:

I know that God does not speak to everyone saying ‘shut up and listen’ but He has to me before and when I asked why He told me to put on my big boy britches and listen.  I protested more and He asked, “Did I get your attention?”  I said, “Yes sir.”  To which He responded, “Do I need to explain more?” 

God does not speak to me in King James English or use flowery language or sound like He is a professor at Oxford, Yale, Harvard, or Cambridge.  He speaks to my heart in the language I speak.  Just as the Holy Spirit did not divest the writers of the Inspired Scriptures of their own personalities God speaks to us in a uniquely personalized manner.  He knows what will get your attention and speaks thusly.  Just wanted to add that!

Enjoy your day in Jesus!