Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else’s scrutiny. “For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:15-16 NRSV.

For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. Matthew 6:8.

I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the One who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, He who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord Himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. Psalm 121:1-5.

In our Friday Zoom Retreat, we talked about listening within the context of condemnation. That as we listen well, it’s difficult to condemn; and that heightened emotions suppress listening for understanding. In the video by John Ortberg he shared when Stephen was speaking to the crowd and their heightened emotions overcame any ability to listen to what Stephen was saying and so they stoned him to silence him. As we talked after the video and shared our own experiences, one of our group mentioned the experience of the Road to Emmaus, also in Acts, where the two disciples were sharing with the stranger (who turned out to be Jesus) all that had happened with Jesus’ crucifixion and their deep disappointment and confusion; and He listened the whole way to where they were going. He lived that crucifixion. Imagine His hearing of it within the experienced perspective of those two men deeply impacted. I can’t help but connect all of this to our chapter, Revelation 5. Listen as you read to all that John, the angels, the four living creatures, and the elders experienced as these amazing events unfold. I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

As they were stoning Stephen for the truth he was telling them about Jesus, being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Acts 7:55-56. The people refused to listen and covered their ears. How different Jesus listening to the two disciples on their long walk away from Jerusalem. How different their own listening to Jesus as he opened understanding for them of the Scriptures and their joy as they realized it was Jesus Himself they were with! Joy not contained as they hurried back to Jerusalem to share with the disciples their amazing encounter. And now imagine John’s listening and seeing this vision unfolding before him that he had to share, so great was that experience for him. And imagine…all of creation! And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and forever!” What a difference is made in us, our hearts and minds opened to Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit! As I have mentioned before in this blog, watching The Chosen depicting what it was like for Jesus, the disciples, and those impacted by His presence among them, has enabled me to know on a deep level that we are all of us connected throughout all the ages of mankind. I can feel the impact of those who came before me like an imprint of His touch then that I can recognize now. He has never left us! Imagine if you can Jesus walking with Abraham, wrestling with Jacob, impacting with His Presence David, Daniel, every prophet and person hungering for closeness with Him. Imagine Mary and Joseph, the disciples and those healed by Jesus then. We are bound together!! He is Life and He is our Hope and with Him we know joy! Listen well because finding God’s love for us is finding our hope and joy! And one day we will all be together in real time learning from and worshiping together Creator God.