August 2, 2025 Devo

A while back, I had someone make a sermon suggestion to me. When I asked them why they thought I needed to preach on that particular topic, they told me they knew someone who really needed to hear it. I said, “If I preach it, do you really think they will hear it and receive it?” They dropped their heads. “Probably not,” they said sadly. They were right. People don’t change because the truth is preached. People are changed because truth is HEARD.
Think about it. Matthew referred to verse 2 of our scripture today when talking about Jesus. Jesus used lots of parables when he preached to help people understand what God was trying to say to them. Did everyone respond positively to Jesus’ preaching? No. Did everyone who sat under His preaching change? No. But it wasn’t because Jesus was a bad communicator. And it wasn’t because He wasn’t “anointed.” He was as anointed as anointed could be! People didn’t change because they didn’t WANT to change. The Truth in living form was trying to give them exactly what they needed, but they just weren’t willing to receive it. The Greatest Truth, spoken by the Greatest Communicator, under the Greatest Anointing of God, can’t penetrate the unwilling ear.
God speaks through the Psalmist to us and says, “Open your ears to what I am saying.” Will you do that today? Will you let God speak to you about how you’re treating your spouse? Will you let God speak to you about that habit that’s destroying your life? Will you let God speak to you about that unforgiveness that you are harboring in your heart? Will you let God speak to you about that anger, negativity, gossiping, or critical spirit that you have?
My guess is that God has already been talking to you about those things. A LOT. He’s been speaking to you through your pastor. He’s been speaking to you through your spouse. He’s been speaking to you through your kids, your friends, and that article you just “happened” to come across in that magazine. He’s been speaking to you through His Word. He’s been speaking to you through His Holy Spirit. God wants to impact your life. He wants to heal you, help you, and change you. And He WILL. God IS speaking. But you have to open your ears. That’s God’s Word for you today.