John 8:39-47: a reflection

39They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this. 41You do the works of your father.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God.” 42Therefore Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me. 43Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word. 44You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. 45But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me. 46Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God.”

In a sharp exchange with those who opposed him, Jesus names a searching test of whether we truly belong to God: whether we hear and receive his word. He who is of God hears the words of God, Jesus says. For this cause you don't hear, because you are not of God. The mark of belonging to God is a receptiveness to his word, an ability and willingness to hear it; those who are truly of God hear the words of God, receive them, respond to them. Those who will not hear God's word show, by that refusal, that they are not of him. Hearing and receiving God's word is the mark of belonging to God; a heart truly his is a heart that hears him. This is not about physical hearing but about spiritual receptiveness, the readiness to receive and respond to God's word as one who belongs to him. Whether we hear and receive God's word reveals whether we are truly his.

Notice the test Jesus names: he who is of God hears the words of God. Those who belonged to God, Jesus says, would hear his words, receive them, respond to them; and those who would not hear showed thereby that they were not of God. This is a searching truth. The mark of truly belonging to God is not merely claiming him, but hearing and receiving his word, being receptive to what he says. A heart that is truly God's is drawn to his word, ready to receive it; a heart that consistently refuses his word reveals a deeper alienation from him. This is not about occasional lapses but about the settled disposition of the heart: does it hear God, receive his word, respond to it, or does it turn away? Those who are of God hear the words of God. Our receptiveness to God's word is a real indication of whether we belong to him. To hear and receive his word is the mark of a heart that is his. The heart truly God's hears him.

That is worth taking to heart, for hearing and receiving God's word is the mark of belonging to him, and we should examine whether we truly hear. We can claim to belong to God while consistently refusing to hear or receive his word; but Jesus says that those who are of God hear the words of God, and those who will not hear show they are not of him. Our receptiveness to God's word reveals whether we are truly his. A heart that is God's is drawn to his word, ready to receive it. Do not claim to belong to God while refusing to hear his word; examine whether you truly hear and receive it, as Jesus said those who are of God hear the words of God. Examine whether you truly hear and receive God's word, since this is the mark of belonging to him, as Jesus said that he who is of God hears the words of God and those who will not hear show they are not of him; for the mark of truly belonging to God is not merely claiming him but a receptiveness to his word, a heart drawn to hear and receive what he says, so that our willingness to hear and receive God's word is a real indication of whether we are truly his.

Lord Jesus, in a sharp exchange with those who opposed you, you name a searching test of whether we truly belong to God: whether we hear and receive his word. He who is of God hears the words of God, you say. For this cause you don't hear, because you are not of God. The mark of belonging to God is a receptiveness to his word, an ability and willingness to hear it; those who are truly of God hear the words of God, receive them, respond to them. Those who will not hear God's word show, by that refusal, that they are not of him. Show me the test you name: he who is of God hears the words of God. Those who belonged to God would hear your words, receive them, respond to them; and those who would not hear showed thereby that they were not of God. The mark of truly belonging to God is not merely claiming him, but hearing and receiving his word. A heart that is truly God's is drawn to his word, ready to receive it; a heart that consistently refuses his word reveals a deeper alienation from him. Does my heart hear God, receive his word, respond to it, or does it turn away? Take that to my heart, for hearing and receiving your word is the mark of belonging to you, and I should examine whether I truly hear. I can claim to belong to you while consistently refusing to hear or receive your word; but you say that those who are of God hear the words of God. My receptiveness to your word reveals whether I am truly yours. Keep me from claiming to belong to you while refusing to hear your word; help me examine whether I truly hear and receive it, Lord, as you said those who are of God hear the words of God, and make my heart one that is drawn to hear and receive what you say.