Listening for Jesus

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Sunday - 9:15 AM Sunday School, 10:30 AM Worship Service

by: Denise Robinson

10/09/2020

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This week we conclude our series of devotionals based on the book "Letters to Marc About Jesus" written by Henri Nouwen. Today we look at the seventh and last letter written by Nouwen to his nephew, discussing his Christian faith.


Letter 7: Listening to Jesus

A 7-month time gap occurs between letters 6 and 7. In that time, Nouwen moves from France to Canada, where he has gone to live and work at a community for mentally-handicapped persons near Toronto called Daybreak. Nouwen makes the confession to Marc that in writing these letters, the letters were written as much for him and for his nephew. Nouwen had been searching for direction in his own life - and felt led to leave university life to live with and serve others. The burning question he had faced: "How best am I to follow Jesus?"

"In my letters I've tried to bring you closer to Jesus. But I now realize that I've also 'used' these letters to get to now Jesus better myself .. In my first letter, I said that I could write to you only what I've lived through and experienced myself. In this final letter I can honestly say that everything I have written to you has sprung directly from my own search for God .. My greatest desire was to awaken in you a deep love for Jesus. I've told you of the Jesus who liberates, of the suffering Jesus and his compassion; of the Jesus who challenges us to love our enemies; and finally of the Jesus who reveals to us the mystery of God's hiddenness. 

In the course of writing I've discovered for myself the great extent to which I'm inclined to 'secularize' Jesus. Instinctively, I look to Jesus for a cheap liberation, a solution to my problems, help with my desire for success, getting even with my opponents, and a good measure of publicity. It's not always easy to see Jesus as the gospel presents him .. And yet, each time I catch a glimpse of the real Jesus, I'm conscious of a new inward peace .. So I can tell you that these letters have helped me to see the real Jesus and have strengthened my decision to go to Canada and live and work there .. Spiritual life is lived in the spirit of Jesus. Jesus is more, much more, than an important historical figure who can still inspire us today. 

You and I both are called to be disciples of Jesus .. What counts is being attentive at all times to the voice of God's love inviting us to obey; that is, to make a generous response. How can we keep listening to this voice in a world which does its best to distract us and get our attention for seemingly more urgent matters? In this last letter I want to put before you, by way of a conclusion, three forms of listening that for me have proven to be the most productive. 

First of all, listen to the church. I know that isn't a popular bit of advice at a time where the church is often seen more as an obstacle in the way than as the way to Jesus. Nevertheless, I'm deeply convinced that the greatest spiritual danger for our times is the separation of Jesus from the truth. The church is the body of the Lord .. I've yet to meet anyone who has come closer to Jesus by forsaking the church. To listen to the church is to listen to the Lord of the church. 

Second, listen to the book. By that I mean read the Bible; read books about the Bible .. I know you read a good deal; but a lot of what you read distracts you from the way that Jesus is showing you .. Many people are brought to God through spiritual literature that they chance or choose to read .. The challenge, however, is not to read the Bible as a source of interesting information, but rather to listen to it as a voice that addresses you directly .. You will learn the most by listening carefully to the Word that seeks admission to your heart. 

Finally, listen to your heart. It's there that Jesus speaks most intimately to you. Praying is first and foremost listening to Jesus who dwells in the very depths of your heart. He doesn't shout. He doesn't thrust himself upon you. His voice is .. very nearly a whisper. This listening must be an active and very attentive listening, for in our restless and noisy world Jesus' loving voice is easily drowned out. You need to set aside some time every day for this active listening to Jesus, if only for ten minutes. Ten minutes each day for Jesus alone can bring about a radical change in your life. 

These three ways of listening will guide you to an ever-deepening spiritual life. They will help you to get to know Jesus in a very intimate way, make you aware of the unique manner in which he is calling you, and give you the courage to follow him even to places where you would rather not go. Living with Jesus is a great adventure. It's the adventure of love .. everything becomes possible. I pray that you will venture on a life with Jesus. He asks everything of you, but gives you more in return. With all my heart, I wish you much hope, much courage, and abounding confidence."

___________________________

Question for your final letter: How best are YOU to follow Jesus? What is Christ calling you to do? Think you're too old, too young, too insignificant, not capable? Wrong! Someone once said, "If you're still breathing, God has a call on your life." Have you listened for the voice of Jesus in church, in reading the Bible, and in prayer? If not (or if you have, but need to continue listening), then I encourage you to write down your commitment to accept Nouwen's challenge to Marc: set aside 10 minutes each day to listen for the voice of Jesus. Ten minutes to pray and ask God to speak to you and show you what God would have you do. Then, when that happens (because it will if you truly listen), will you venture on that life with Jesus?

I hope you have enjoyed this study. If you have written letters along the way, keep them and go back to them months from now, years from now. They will serve as a reminder of your faith journey and will hopefully be a reminder to you of the need to continue on the journey. 

God bless,
Pastor Denise
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This week we conclude our series of devotionals based on the book "Letters to Marc About Jesus" written by Henri Nouwen. Today we look at the seventh and last letter written by Nouwen to his nephew, discussing his Christian faith.


Letter 7: Listening to Jesus

A 7-month time gap occurs between letters 6 and 7. In that time, Nouwen moves from France to Canada, where he has gone to live and work at a community for mentally-handicapped persons near Toronto called Daybreak. Nouwen makes the confession to Marc that in writing these letters, the letters were written as much for him and for his nephew. Nouwen had been searching for direction in his own life - and felt led to leave university life to live with and serve others. The burning question he had faced: "How best am I to follow Jesus?"

"In my letters I've tried to bring you closer to Jesus. But I now realize that I've also 'used' these letters to get to now Jesus better myself .. In my first letter, I said that I could write to you only what I've lived through and experienced myself. In this final letter I can honestly say that everything I have written to you has sprung directly from my own search for God .. My greatest desire was to awaken in you a deep love for Jesus. I've told you of the Jesus who liberates, of the suffering Jesus and his compassion; of the Jesus who challenges us to love our enemies; and finally of the Jesus who reveals to us the mystery of God's hiddenness. 

In the course of writing I've discovered for myself the great extent to which I'm inclined to 'secularize' Jesus. Instinctively, I look to Jesus for a cheap liberation, a solution to my problems, help with my desire for success, getting even with my opponents, and a good measure of publicity. It's not always easy to see Jesus as the gospel presents him .. And yet, each time I catch a glimpse of the real Jesus, I'm conscious of a new inward peace .. So I can tell you that these letters have helped me to see the real Jesus and have strengthened my decision to go to Canada and live and work there .. Spiritual life is lived in the spirit of Jesus. Jesus is more, much more, than an important historical figure who can still inspire us today. 

You and I both are called to be disciples of Jesus .. What counts is being attentive at all times to the voice of God's love inviting us to obey; that is, to make a generous response. How can we keep listening to this voice in a world which does its best to distract us and get our attention for seemingly more urgent matters? In this last letter I want to put before you, by way of a conclusion, three forms of listening that for me have proven to be the most productive. 

First of all, listen to the church. I know that isn't a popular bit of advice at a time where the church is often seen more as an obstacle in the way than as the way to Jesus. Nevertheless, I'm deeply convinced that the greatest spiritual danger for our times is the separation of Jesus from the truth. The church is the body of the Lord .. I've yet to meet anyone who has come closer to Jesus by forsaking the church. To listen to the church is to listen to the Lord of the church. 

Second, listen to the book. By that I mean read the Bible; read books about the Bible .. I know you read a good deal; but a lot of what you read distracts you from the way that Jesus is showing you .. Many people are brought to God through spiritual literature that they chance or choose to read .. The challenge, however, is not to read the Bible as a source of interesting information, but rather to listen to it as a voice that addresses you directly .. You will learn the most by listening carefully to the Word that seeks admission to your heart. 

Finally, listen to your heart. It's there that Jesus speaks most intimately to you. Praying is first and foremost listening to Jesus who dwells in the very depths of your heart. He doesn't shout. He doesn't thrust himself upon you. His voice is .. very nearly a whisper. This listening must be an active and very attentive listening, for in our restless and noisy world Jesus' loving voice is easily drowned out. You need to set aside some time every day for this active listening to Jesus, if only for ten minutes. Ten minutes each day for Jesus alone can bring about a radical change in your life. 

These three ways of listening will guide you to an ever-deepening spiritual life. They will help you to get to know Jesus in a very intimate way, make you aware of the unique manner in which he is calling you, and give you the courage to follow him even to places where you would rather not go. Living with Jesus is a great adventure. It's the adventure of love .. everything becomes possible. I pray that you will venture on a life with Jesus. He asks everything of you, but gives you more in return. With all my heart, I wish you much hope, much courage, and abounding confidence."

___________________________

Question for your final letter: How best are YOU to follow Jesus? What is Christ calling you to do? Think you're too old, too young, too insignificant, not capable? Wrong! Someone once said, "If you're still breathing, God has a call on your life." Have you listened for the voice of Jesus in church, in reading the Bible, and in prayer? If not (or if you have, but need to continue listening), then I encourage you to write down your commitment to accept Nouwen's challenge to Marc: set aside 10 minutes each day to listen for the voice of Jesus. Ten minutes to pray and ask God to speak to you and show you what God would have you do. Then, when that happens (because it will if you truly listen), will you venture on that life with Jesus?

I hope you have enjoyed this study. If you have written letters along the way, keep them and go back to them months from now, years from now. They will serve as a reminder of your faith journey and will hopefully be a reminder to you of the need to continue on the journey. 

God bless,
Pastor Denise
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