The ONE thing that encompasses EVERYTHING (Part 1)

"Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy."
I Corinthians 14:1  ESV

Listening is the one thing that encompasses everything.  It is the one virtue that encompasses every virtue, and the one power that encompasses every power.

Here are the virtues of which I speak:

love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
self-control

The Word of God calls these virtues the "fruit of the Spirit."  These are the result of following the Holy Spirit.

Here is the power of which I speak:
prophecy.

Both involve one thing:  listening.

To truly listen to someone is to truly love him or her.  Listening is the first and foremost act of humility, the essential trait of a servant, the opposite of the supreme vice: pride.
The one who listens is a truly humble servant, for how can we meet a need or desire if we don't know what need or desire is to be met?  And how can we know a person's need or desire without asking?  How can we know the answer without truly listening?

• Listening is love, 
• resulting in joy, for we all enjoy being truly listened to.
• Listening results in peace, for every argument involves one or both of the arguers not truly listening.  But if one of them will simply stop, listen, and comprehend, then the argument can indeed come to an end.  
• Listening assumes patience, waiting to hear and understand before one speaks.
• Listening is the truest act of kindness, because it is the highest act of value for that which is most valuable to us:  the expression of our souls--our thoughts, feelings, and choices. 
• Listening is the highest act of goodness.  A good listener is more desirable than a good speaker. 
• Listening expresses the truest faithfulness of a friend.  Who are our very best friends?  The very best listeners; those who know us and understand us most. 
• Listening is gentleness, while interrupting is harshness.  Those who interrupt abruptly and harshly tell us that our thoughts and feelings are worthless, or that they are of far less value than the thoughts of the interrupter.

• Listening is the highest self control, as it is written, "If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body."  As it is written again, "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise."  It is written yet again, "Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." 

So we see that listening encompasses ALL of the fruit of the Spirit.  A Christian who listens is following the Spirit. (To be continued.)