The ONE thing that encompasses EVERYTHING (Conclusion)

I can imagine two objections:

1. It can’t be THAT simple! There must be more to the all encompassing than listening!!
2. Are we REALLY supposed to LISTEN to EVERYBODY? 

Let’s deal with simplicity and enemies. As far as simplicity, Adam and Eve had ONE command, and all they had to do was LISTEN to God and NOT TO SATAN! This leads to whether we should listen to everyone! We should NEVER “listen” to Satan, to his children, or to his prophets and prophetesses: those who are liars, manipulators, dominators, and deceivers! 

I use the word “listen” in two senses: one applies to how we should treat EVERYBODY, INCLUDING ENEMIES, and one that does not apply to everybody, specifically enemies. Jesus, TECHNICALLY, “listened” to Satan during His temptation. He heard the tempter’s words, understood them, AND RESISTED THEM. This, by the way, is the “shield of faith” spoken of by Paul that makes believers INVINCIBLE to Satan’s attacks and deceptions. We will not receive lies. We are close minded in relation to deceptions! 

Now of course, we will inevitably “hear” lies and temptations when they are presented to us. But we will NEVER receive them or believe them! So in dealing with people who speak lies or deceptions, we “listen” to them in the technical sense, but we don’t “listen” to them in the sense of being open to them. We hear and understand them, then attempt to expose their deception, and exchange lies with truth. If the liar refuses to accept truth and continues to willfully live in a state of deception, then the most loving thing to do is to no longer “listen” to his or her deceptions. 

Remember, we are to love our neighbors (even liars) as ourselves. So, what would you want someone to do for you if you were deceived? Wouldn’t you WANT them to help you to see the truth? And what if you REFUSED the truth and lived in a state of deception (like drug or alcohol addiction, for example.) Would you WANT your friend to enable your addictions? In your right mind, you’d want your friend to take the keys if you are drunk. You wouldn’t want her to LISTEN to you in your drunken state! 

So, we listen to the deceived TO EXPOSE DECEPTION.
It is really is as easy as choosing to ALWAYS listen to God, and to NEVER listen to Satan.

May God bless you as you listen to Him today!