Blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it. (Rev. 1:3)
In the summer of 2018, my wife Fikile and I were on our way from Eswatini, driving to Xai-Xai through the capital, Maputo, in Mozambique. In the absence of a GPS, my wife, who has an eye for details and is always helpful especially when traveling in unfamiliar places, served as navigator.
As we approached an intersection in one part of the city, Fikile told me to take the left turn. However, in a manly and arrogant fashion, I strongly reasoned that the place we were headed was on the other side of town. Therefore, the right turn was the most logical for me. Unfortunately for me, for the next thirty minutes, I moved back and forth irrationally lost. If only I had paid attention to my lovely wife, who apparently saw the road sign before the junction and had kindly advised the best way to turn.
God has graciously given us his living Word for our faith-formation journey. Often, with an egocentric approach, we disobediently ignore the Word and voice of God. Moreover, we selfishly and blindly choose to pursue things of our own that bear no eternal value.
There is a mandate to declare God’s Word and the responsibility of choice to either listen or not take to heart God’s divine commands. God is nevertheless pleased with those who are not merely listeners but also doers of his Word.
Choose to be both a hearer and doer of God’s Word.
Jim Machuku is an ordained minister, resident pastor at Mc3, and an educator. He is passionate about leadership development in Africa.
© 2022 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
