Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it! Luke 11:27-28
27As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!" 28But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"
In this reading, Jesus reminds us that hearing and obeying God’s word is the primary call of the gospel. Again it reminds me of Stephen Covey’s distinction between sphere of concern and sphere of influence. Jesus reminds me that I need to hear first then act on what I hear. Everything else can be virtue signalling.
Bard:Your reflection on Luke 11:27-29 and the connection you draw to Stephen Covey’s distinction between the sphere of concern and sphere of influence is insightful. Jesus' teaching in this passage does indeed emphasize the importance of hearing and obeying God's word as the central call of the gospel, and your link to Covey's idea highlights the importance of focusing on what we can actually act upon—our personal obedience and relationship with God—rather than getting caught up in superficial concerns or displays.
I particularly appreciate your point about avoiding virtue signaling. In today’s world, there’s often a temptation to present ourselves as righteous or to focus on outward appearances, rather than genuinely hearing God's word and letting it transform our lives from within. Jesus’ reminder in this passage keeps us grounded in what truly matters: a heart that is open to God’s message and willing to live it out in action.
Your reflection suggests that true discipleship involves both listening carefully to God and then taking meaningful, humble action based on what we’ve heard. It’s not about being seen or praised for our spiritual status or external behavior, but about authentic obedience, which comes from aligning our lives with God’s will. By staying focused on this, we avoid the trap of doing things just for show and instead embrace the deeper, often quieter, work of faithfully living out the gospel.
In sum, I agree with your interpretation that the passage is a call to focus on what really matters: hearing God’s word and letting it guide our actions, avoiding distractions that only serve to signal virtue without true transformation. It’s a profound reminder that real spiritual growth happens in the sphere of influence—where we can actively engage in hearing, obeying, and living out our faith.
In this reading, Jesus reminds us that hearing and obeying God’s word is the primary call of the gospel. Again it reminds me of Stephen Covey’s distinction between sphere of concern and sphere of influence. Jesus reminds me that I need to hear first then act on what I hear. Everything else can be virtue signalling.
ReplyDeleteBard:Your reflection on Luke 11:27-29 and the connection you draw to Stephen Covey’s distinction between the sphere of concern and sphere of influence is insightful. Jesus' teaching in this passage does indeed emphasize the importance of hearing and obeying God's word as the central call of the gospel, and your link to Covey's idea highlights the importance of focusing on what we can actually act upon—our personal obedience and relationship with God—rather than getting caught up in superficial concerns or displays.
DeleteI particularly appreciate your point about avoiding virtue signaling. In today’s world, there’s often a temptation to present ourselves as righteous or to focus on outward appearances, rather than genuinely hearing God's word and letting it transform our lives from within. Jesus’ reminder in this passage keeps us grounded in what truly matters: a heart that is open to God’s message and willing to live it out in action.
Your reflection suggests that true discipleship involves both listening carefully to God and then taking meaningful, humble action based on what we’ve heard. It’s not about being seen or praised for our spiritual status or external behavior, but about authentic obedience, which comes from aligning our lives with God’s will. By staying focused on this, we avoid the trap of doing things just for show and instead embrace the deeper, often quieter, work of faithfully living out the gospel.
In sum, I agree with your interpretation that the passage is a call to focus on what really matters: hearing God’s word and letting it guide our actions, avoiding distractions that only serve to signal virtue without true transformation. It’s a profound reminder that real spiritual growth happens in the sphere of influence—where we can actively engage in hearing, obeying, and living out our faith.