Daily Devotions

Lenten Devotional for Tuesday April 3, 2007

Based on Isaiah 50:4-9a

Isn’t it amazing how we all have this tendency to hear only what we want to hear? You can be as careful as possible to word something in a positive way, but if someone wants to hear it in a negative way, they will. Or, you can take every precaution to be clear in giving instructions and yet if someone doesn’t want to hear them, they won’t.

Often we do the same thing with God and our faith. We use the scriptures, a sermon, or some portion of our existing theological viewpoint to justify our actions or emotions. We hear what it is that we want to hear.

Once we realize and admit that this is our tendency, we can begin to learn how to listen more carefully to God in a way that cuts through all of our self-focus and self justification and instead hears a God-focused truth for our lives.

What is it that we expect to hear for our lives during these days of Holy Week? Are we listening for an affirmation as to what we already think or are we listening to hear a new word from God?

This passage from Isaiah reminds us that those who are like Christ are those who listen for God’s word for their lives rather than their own. The ears of this Christ-like servant listen carefully with great humility, knowing that they have much to learn from the one perfect teacher. The ears of the Christ-like servant are open to hearing God’s word even when it is not an easy one: even when it means having to turn the other cheek and respond with submission rather than violence, even when it means hearing the message of betrayal and crucifixion that must come before the joy of Easter.

Are we willing to listen in this way, and then follow in the way of the Christ-like servant? When we do so we will hear challenging words, words such as, “anyone who wants to be my follower my deny himself, take up his cross and follow me” and “now that I your Lord have washed your feet, you should wash one another’s feet.” These are the difficult words of Holy Week and yet when we begin to carefully listen to and practice them we will find that they hold hope, strength, and even resurrection to eternal life.

May we as the Christ-like servant in Isaiah, carefully listen for God’s truth for our lives so that we too can say, “He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back.”


Prayer: As we make this Holy week journey again toward the cross, O God, help us to open our ears to truly hear your word for our lives and then give us the willingness to put those words into practice. Amen.

Isaiah 50:4-9a

4 The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.

5 The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears,
and I have not been rebellious;
I have not drawn back.

6 I offered my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from mocking and spitting.

7 Because the Sovereign LORD helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
and I know I will not be put to shame.

8 He who vindicates me is near.
Who then will bring charges against me?
Let us face each other!
Who is my accuser?
Let him confront me!

9 It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me.
Who is he that will condemn me?
They will all wear out like a garment;
the moths will eat them up.