Just listen
Jude 1:16-19 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. 17 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
How good of a listener are you? This calls for a deep self reflection, and maybe an honest evaluation from someone close to you who will tell you the truth. When I look back on my life, I see how awful a listener I was. I thought I knew what someone was going to say, so I finished their sentences for them. My attention span was so short I would only gather a highlight of what they were speaking to me. In my pride I most likely missed many important lessons in life in my inability to listen. I thank Christ for changing and still sanctifying that personality trait in me. Through Him I have become a better listener, and realize what I have to say is not as important as what I am receiving.
Jude is speaking to the false teachers of the day; to those that are tickling the ears of the hearers, and perverting Christianity. All their glorious words seem to draw the attention to themselves. They stand in their own glory,, and not the glory of Christ. They will seemingly point to all that Christ has given to them, and seemingly hidden they elevate themselves. Many a preacher stands in the pulpit of pride today, and their hearts will have to answer to Christ in their motives. They twist the Word of God into their own motives, and here Jude points out their eternal destinies without the Holy Spirit living inside them. 19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. There are those that struggle with pride, and their are those that truly preach from pride and further themselves from the humble servant heart of a disciple.
The better listener you become, the more discernment you will gain. If you will simply listen to what the person has to say, their hearts will be revealed. Someone whom you may have elevated may reveal they are truly only elevating themselves. When this truth is revealed as a good listener, you must with God’s help evaluate what they have been teaching. I have been continually disappointed in Godly men, and their pride in their ministries. But that is also where we come to understand man will always disappoint; that is why we focus on Christ who will not. The more time you spend alone with God the better you will understand the Word of God and begin to be able to discern those teachers. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
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