Listen To Him (Matthew 7:5)

 


Friday, 24 October, 2025


Psalms 130; 131; 133

2 Kings 8:1-15

Matthew 17:1-13


Observance: United Nations, inaugurated 1945


Listen To Him (Matthew 7:5)


[Jesus] was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”


One of the great aspects of faith is trust. A faithful Christian is one who trusts God. And one of the biggest things God wants us to get through our heads is that we are to escape fear through our trust in him.


Consider this story we have read today in our second lesson. The Transfiguration of our Lord is one of those big events in the Bible the Church keeps coming back to. You have probably read it (and had it read to you) many times over the years.


But look at the order of things: there is a voice from the cloud that tells the disciples to listen to Jesus. Then look at the first words out of Jesus’ mouth after that: “Rise, and have no fear”. God the Son has just been affirmed by God the Father, and the first words out of his mouth are words of encouragement and support.


This is why Sunday School songs are so important to our discipleship. I still remember clearly being a young child singing “Be bold! Be strong! For the Lord your God is with you!”, and as the years have gone by, I have only been confirmed in that advice.


What do you currently fear? How can that fear be taken away by listening to God’s beloved Son and his words of encouragement and support?


God our Father, you love us with an unending love, and are working all things for our good: teach us to listen better to the words of your beloved Son, that our fears may be swallowed up, and our trust in you made sure.

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