Question 1

What should have our attention?

Accepted Answer

Ecclesiastes 7:13Accept the way God does things, for who can straighten what he has made crooked?John 5:19So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.”We should pay attention to what God is doing and the way he is working in our lives and in the world around us.Luke 8:18“So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”1 Corinthians 2:2I [Paul] decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.Hebrews 2:3-4So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.We should pay attention to the message Jesus has for us. What Jesus says is reinforced by who he is—God’s Son. If Jesus is not God’s Son, he would be incapable of raising us from the dead. He would have no power to save us and grant us eternal life. If the most important or powerful person on earth wanted to talk with you, would you listen? Would you give that person your full attention? The Son of God is infinitely more important than anyone else in history!Psalm 119:78I will concentrate on your commandments.2 Peter 1:19Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.We should pay attention to God’s Word. Through the Bible, God speaks to us and brings us life that will last forever.Proverbs 5:1My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel.Proverbs 5:13Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers? Why didn’t I pay attention to my instructors?Proverbs 16:20Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful.Proverbs 19:27If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will turn your back on knowledge.Proverbs 22:17Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction.We should pay attention to the instruction we receive from godly and wise counselors and teachers. If we don’t, we may be turning our backs on God himself.Matthew 7:15Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.Matthew 16:11-12“Why can’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread? So again I say, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’” Then at last they understood that he wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.2 Peter 2:1There were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves.We must be alert to the deception of false prophets and false teachers, those who twist God’s Word to make it say whatever they want. We should pay attention to their wiles and reject their teachings.Mark 13:32-33“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!”Luke 21:31, 34-36“In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the Kingdom of God is near. . . . Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”1 Thessalonians 5:4-6You aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.We can prepare for the day of Christ’s return by paying attention to the way we live. We should live as though he were coming back today.Matthew 26:41“Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”Ephesians 6:18Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.Colossians 4:2Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.Our prayer life deserves our focused attention. That’s how we best connect to God himself.1 Corinthians 16:13Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.1 Timothy 4:8Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.1 Timothy 4:16Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.The growth and strengthening of our spiritual lives deserves our attention. We should exercise our bodies to keep them healthy, but it is even more important for us to build our souls so they are strong and healthy.

Question 2

What are some of the ways God uses to get our attention?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 7:24“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.”John 8:47“Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”God uses his Word to get our attention. If we are open and listening, a gentle whisper from God can get our attention more clearly than a shout from someone else.Psalm 104:24-25O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small.Romans 1:20Ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.God uses the amazing world of nature to get our attention. Seeing evidence of the works of the Creator himself should get anyone’s attention.Exodus 3:4When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied.Mark 9:7Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.”Acts 2:22“God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.”Acts 8:6Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did.Acts 9:3-5As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!”God sometimes chooses miraculous events to get our attention. Miracles can be small, such as our next breath, or great, such as the parting of the Red Sea. They might be quiet, such as a sunrise, or shattering, such as a volcano erupting. We can experience take-for-granted miracles like a friend’s smile or once-in-a-lifetime miracles like an angel’s appearance. But if we are listening and open, any of these can catch and hold our attention, and then turn our focus back to God himself, who gives all good things.Job 36:15“But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer. For he gets their attention through adversity.”Isaiah 28:11So now God will have to speak to his people through foreign oppressors who speak a strange language!God can use difficult times in our lives to get our attention. Then we need to figure out what he wants us to do.1 Samuel 3:9-10So he [Eli] said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed. And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”Jeremiah 29:19“For they refuse to listen to me, though I have spoken to them repeatedly through the prophets I sent. And you who are in exile have not listened either,” says the Lord.God can use other people to get our attention and direct us to him. When a person truly is speaking for God, we must listen.

Question 3

What can we do to pay more attention to God?

Accepted Answer

Deuteronomy 13:4“Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him.”John 8:47“Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”John 10:16“I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.”We can depend on God. The more we depend on him, the more we will direct our attention toward him.Isaiah 5:12They furnish wine and lovely music at their grand parties—lyre and harp, tambourine and flute—but they never think about the Lord or notice what he is doing.Ezekiel 40:4He said to me, “Son of man, watch and listen. Pay close attention to everything I show you. You have been brought here so I can show you many things. Then you will return to the people of Israel and tell them everything you have seen.”We can think more about God. When God is a regular part of our thoughts, we will be more aware of what he is doing.1 Kings 19:11-13“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”Psalm 46:10Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.We can quietly listen for God. A still, quiet spirit helps us focus our attention to God. A whispering God is more powerful than a shouting neighbor.Psalm 85:8I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways.Proverbs 4:20My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words.Hebrews 2:1So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.Hebrews 3:7, 15That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts” . . . Remember what it says: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.”We should make listening to God a priority worthy of our immediate attention. If God truly is your God, you will listen to him.Psalm 78:1O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying.Matthew 11:15“Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”Matthew 13:12“To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”We can choose the attitude of being willing to do whatever God wants. Our willing attitude will help us pay attention to God. Listening is an attitude, not merely an action. As our respect for someone withers, so will our listening. As our love for someone grows, so will our listening.Isaiah 50:5The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me, and I have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away.Jeremiah 13:15Listen and pay attention! Do not be arrogant, for the Lord has spoken.Jeremiah 17:23“But they did not listen or obey. They stubbornly refused to pay attention or accept my discipline.”Ezekiel 2:7“You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious!”Ezekiel 12:2“Son of man, you live among rebels who have eyes but refuse to see. They have ears but refuse to hear. For they are a rebellious people.”We can be humble and submissive before God. A rebellious or proud spirit can keep us from paying attention to God. Rebellion and pride turn our affections inward. Humility turns our affections outward.1 Samuel 15:22Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.”Isaiah 42:20You see and recognize what is right but refuse to act on it. You hear with your ears, but you don’t really listen.Ezekiel 33:31So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money.James 1:22-23Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.We can obey God. If we think God is worth obeying, we will. If we think he is not worth obeying, we won’t. We always confirm our commitments by our actions.

Question 4

How can we pay better attention to each other?

Accepted Answer

Hebrews 5:11There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.We can pay better attention to others by trying to understand what they are saying. Hearing someone’s words and listening to their meaning can be very different things.James 2:3-4, 8-9If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? . . . Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.We can make sure our motives are pure. This should lead us to give attention to people without bias or discrimination. Why we listen to others is as important as what we hear. How we listen to others is as important as the words themselves.Genesis 40:6When Joseph saw them the next morning, he noticed that they both looked upset.Matthew 9:23When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music.Mark 3:1Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand.Acts 14:9[He was] listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed.We can pay better attention to others by being aware of the setting, context, and non-verbal cues. We can pay attention to more than just what people say. We can be alert to what is happening around us. We can pay attention to others’ inner strengths and needs, as well as others’ facial expressions and body language.Proverbs 12:15Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.Proverbs 15:31-32If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.We can pay better attention to others by being willing to accept advice and constructive criticism. Being willing to listen will remove barriers and allow us to focus more intently on what others have to say.Acts 26:3“For I know you are an expert on all Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently!”Hebrews 13:22I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to pay attention to what I have written in this brief exhortation.James 1:19Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.We can pay better attention to others by listening patiently, quietly, and carefully. Careless or distracted listening cannot hear very much.

Attention