John 8:43 (NLT)
(Jesus speaking) Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me!
“The inability to understand the voice of God may be due to an inability to hear with the inner hearing of the Spirit.” The human heart can become so very calloused–fixated on the pride of life, the lusts of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes (I John 2:16) and soon we are not just drifting away from our spiritual moorings but running full speed toward self-consumption. Read Revelation and see how it was evident in the churches that John addressed. Invite the Holy Spirit to groom your soul every day: “Search me, Oh God…” (Psalm 139:23-24) so that you don’t become like the religious rulers who, in effect, “cancelled” Jesus’ words through refusal to hear. “Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God” (vs 47 (NLT). God, give us a heart to hear and understand.