Question 1

What kinds of things am I most likely insensitive to?

Accepted Answer

Deuteronomy 29:2-4Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them, “You have seen with your own eyes everything the Lord did in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to his whole country—all the great tests of strength, the miraculous signs, and the amazing wonders. But to this day the Lord has not given you minds that understand, nor eyes that see, nor ears that hear!”How tragic to be insensitive to the miracles of God all around us. We miss out on so much when we aren’t attuned to God’s work in nature and in people.Philippians 2:1-4Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.1 Thessalonians 5:14Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.It’s easy for us to be insensitive to the people around us when focused on our own needs and agendas. We need to slow down enough to notice and respond to the needs of the people around us.

Question 2

In what areas do I probably need to develop more sensitivity?

Accepted Answer

Deuteronomy 15:7“If there are any poor Israelites in your towns when you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tightfisted toward them.”James 1:26-27If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.We are called to always be sensitive and openhearted toward the needs of the poor and oppressed. The way we speak about and to others often reveals our level of sensitivity toward people in need.Proverbs 27:14A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning will be taken as a curse!We should take special care to be sensitive to those we are around every day, including our neighbors, family members, and co-workers. When we take them for granted, it’s very easy to annoy them and damage these important relationships.Proverbs 28:14Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.In order to keep our consciences clear, we need to be sensitive to the dangers of sin and temptation.Acts 13:2-3One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.Acts 16:6-10Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. . . . That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit will guide us through every situation in our lives.

Question 3

How can I develop spiritual sensitivity—to God and to his Word?

Accepted Answer

Job 12:11“The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.”Psalm 119:18Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.John 9:39Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”1 Peter 2:8And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.Spiritual sensitivity comes from eyes that are open to read God’s Word and ears willing to hear what it says. We must develop the art of listening to God through his Word. Then we must use our hands to put it to action!

Question 4

What will dull my spiritual sensitivity?

Accepted Answer

Isaiah 6:5Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”A lack of awareness of God’s holiness will dull our sensitivity to the sin in our lives.Psalm 19:12-14How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.Forgetting that our sin can be expressed in many subtle ways can dull us spiritually. We need to overcome this blindness by asking God to sensitize us to sins we may not be consciously aware of.2 Chronicles 25:27After Amaziah turned away from the Lord, there was a conspiracy against his life in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But his enemies sent assassins after him, and they killed him there.Matthew 13:14-15“This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’”Ephesians 4:19They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.When we give in to sinful desires and give up fighting our sin, our spiritual sensitivity will grow increasingly dull.2 John 1:9-11Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.Time away from God dulls our spiritual sensitivity. The more time we spend ignoring God, the less sensitive we will be toward his presence and leading.Revelation 2:14“But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin.”Compromising with sin will eventually dull our sensitivity to it.

Question 5

Is God sensitive toward me?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 89:1I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.Psalm 23:1-3The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.God is sensitive to our needs, watching over the details of our lives. The proof is in his mercy for us.1 Corinthians 10:13The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.God is sensitive to the temptations we face and offers us ways to avoid them.Romans 6:12; 13:14Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. . . . Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.God is sensitive to the power of sin to control us and gives us Jesus’ constant presence to help us.John 3:16“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”Matthew 9:36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.Matthew 20:34Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.Mark 8:2“I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat.”Jesus is aware of our needs and is ready to meet them when we ask. The coming of Jesus the Messiah to the world demonstrates God’s profound awareness of our needs.

Question 6

How can I be more sensitive toward others?

Accepted Answer

Job 2:11-13When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. Their names were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words.Romans 16:2Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me.We can show sensitivity to others by compassionately moving to meet their needs.Romans 15:1-2We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.1 Peter 3:8Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.We can be more thoughtful of others by considering what will best strengthen their relationship with God.Ephesians 5:33So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.Ephesians 6:1-2Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise:Colossians 3:21Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.We can be more thoughtful by obeying God’s basic guidelines for family roles and responsibilities, showing each other love, respect, and honor.1 Thessalonians 2:7As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children.We can be more willing to lay aside our own rights and treat others with gentleness and care.Proverbs 12:25Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.Proverbs 15:28The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.Ephesians 4:29Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.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 be more thoughtful with our words by listening well and thinking before we speak. Our encouraging words can meet very important needs. But listening first will not only help us fully understand the need, it will also gain us the right to address it.Ruth 2:15-16When Ruth went back to work again, Boaz ordered his young men, “Let her gather grain right among the sheaves without stopping her. And pull out some heads of barley from the bundles and drop them on purpose for her. Let her pick them up, and don’t give her a hard time!”Proverbs 3:27Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.Romans 12:8If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.Romans 12:13When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.Hebrews 13:16Don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.1 John 3:17If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?God has equipped each of us in special ways to meet the needs of others. When we are looking for ways to use our gifts for others, we will be more thoughtful and sensitive to their needs.