Learning to listen is more important today than ever, because we live in an age of instant everything. To be in a learning position begins with a humble attitude. Humility enables learning. Pride says we already know it; humility says I’m willing to listen and learn. A lowly position is the attitude of Jesus. He said to, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly [humble] in heart."

The position of learning is to first listen. This listening and learning becomes very important when it concerns spiritual matters. God says (Mark 9:7), "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" Jesus taught many things (on many subjects) because He wants us to learn spiritual truth from Him.

We must carefully consider our attitude, for it is all too easy to be hard of listening and to close our mind to learning. The Apostle John gave some very important information about staying connected to Christ, so let us listen to what he says and be willing to learn about a very important aspect of the Christian faith.

(1 John 2:24-27), "See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us--even eternal life."

Nothing in this world compares to eternity in the next. The ancient words of the Bible speak to us in this 21^st century. The Apostle tells us to keep those words in our minds and to remain connected to Christ. It is all part of our salvation.

(26-27) "I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him."

The next two verses give a test by which we can know if we are still connected to Christ. (28-29), "And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him."

Jesus was easy to approach and never turned anyone away, but always told people what they needed to know. He began His memorable Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3) with, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

To be poor in spirit is to be humble in attitude and willing to learn. The promise of salvation is given to the lowly of heart. That is why we ask God each day to search our heart and reveal any pride that may be hidden. "Let this mind be in you that is also in Christ Jesus," (Philippians 2:5).

Pride prevents learning because a proud heart doesn’t listen. If we think we know as much as the one talking we don’t want to listen so learning stops. All pride is from the devil, and he doesn’t want us to learn anything of spiritual value. God is the source of spiritual matters, and He wants us to learn, and grow, and progress in the Christian faith. We begin by reading the Bible every day and asking God to give us the light and understanding needed to learn and to apply those Scriptures.

Jesus was the most important Person who ever walked on earth, and yet He was easy to speak with. People who wanted to learn spiritual truth would search for Him. Although it would seem very difficult to speak personally with someone as important as Jesus, He assured everyone that He was "gentle and humble in heart." The original Greek word humble means lowly (or meek and unassuming…lacking any pride).

To realize our inability to live a right life in our own strength and that our total dependence is upon God for everything, automatically makes us humble and grateful for divine help. "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God," (1 Peter 5:6). Humility doesn’t talk about our accomplishments but what God has accomplished for us on the cross. Anything we have received or enjoy, has come from God.

Humility recognizes the fact that we have all sinned (more times than could be counted), and that we do not have the ability to save ourselves. Pondering that for a moment will make us humble. No one can live the Christian life of themselves. Everyone is heading for eternal destruction (if left to themselves), so it is time to humble ourselves before God because only by His mercy and grace will we be plucked from the fire and saved!

We must admit (as the Apostle did) that we are nothing of ourselves, but everything in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:5), "Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God." Anything we can do (or any faith that we have) is only because God was willing to give them All honor and glory goes to Him! "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God," (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Knowing that God is everything and that we are nothing (without Him) gives evidence that we are learning to listen. It is where conceit, boasting, arrogance, and pride is gone, and the attitude of Christ has taken their place. If we always try to get the first and the best, big changes are in order.

Philippians 2:3 reminds us to, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." How opposite that is to the world’s attitude! Humility never wants attention, but desires the lowest place and last row. Humility considers the best interests of others first , and our own second. Satan is self-serving, but the Savior is serving others.

A lowly attitude sees others as a possible source of information (regardless of their age or education or position in life). Anyone can have a God-given gift that they are willing to share, if we are willing to listen. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ," (Philippians 2:5). Humility is the total lack of pride.

Jesus was lowly in heart and yet was the King of all kings. Jesus was at home with His disciples because He felt comfortable around poor people. He never thought about His position (relative to their position). If any one else had said, "I am humble in heart," it would have sounded boastful, but Jesus could say it because it was true. He was God in nature.

We should study how Christ responded to situations and people because His humble manner of responding can teach us volumes (if we are willing to listen). Philippians 2:6-8 tells us that [Jesus] "being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross!"

Acting as a servant, He walked a lowly path. That humble position Jesus always took, was a learning position. He was willing to listen and honestly admitted (John 12:50), "Whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."

To think we know all there is to know about something, is a non-listening and non-learning position resulting from pride. It is opposite to the mind of Christ and will bring about many problems if not repented of and corrected. "Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice," (Proverbs 13:10).

To consider others of less intelligence, not as educated, or lacking in ability is a proud spirit (which is deadly in spiritual matters). Pride can be eternally-fatal if not recognized for what it is, repented of immediately, and by God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness removed from our heart.

The Pharisees could not learn because they thought they knew more than Christ. Their attitude of pride and arrogance must be labeled for what it is, spiritually deadly and eternally fatal if not recognized and corrected.

It was no accident that our Savior was born in a stable. Jesus began life in humble surroundings, with humble parents by His side. It was an ordinary village, where He worked as a lowly carpenter. When He began His ministry, it was not with advertising and promotion, but with a simple message of repentance and turning to God. He attitude was always one of kindness and compassion as He gave the truth He learned from His Father.

The men He chose were not royal officials or the wealthy, but poor people who worked for a living. Christ did not seek the rich and powerful, but kept fellowship with the poor and the lowly. Jesus touched (and healed) lepers when no one else would get near them. He stopped to help a beggar when others rebuked him. Christ talked with a Samaritan woman, when other Jews wouldn't acknowledge her presence.

Christ showed concern for tax collectors and sinful women, while others shunned and criticized them. Jesus was truly "gentle and lowly in heart." Self seeks the wealthy and the influential, but overlooks the lowly and the poor. How opposite the natural mind is to the Christ-like mind!

A lowly person extends a helping hand, but arrogance ignores and walks on by. Jesus is looking for people who will step down from a high place, to a humble plane. He is just asking us to admit, that (except for the grace of God), we would have (and be) nothing. Learning to listen begins with listening to God.

In Matthew 19:13 this story is given as an example of learning to listen. "Little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them."

The disciples had already argued over who of them was the most important (or the greatest), so Jesus used this incident to teach a spiritual lesson the disciples needed to learn. He said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (14). The learning of spiritual truth, begins with the attitude of a child.

The gift of salvation is given to those who come to Christ in humility of spirit and thankfulness of heart. Humility recognizes the value of every human being (regardless of age, color, nationality, education (or social position). Humility doesn’t label people, but helps them (whenever or however they can).

The disciples should have remembered Jesus’ thoughts about the humble attitude of a child. The last time they argued over who would be the greatest in the kingdom, Jesus called a little child to stand next to Him, and said: "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven," (Matthew 18:4).

Pointing to the child, Jesus may have said the child was learning to listen and willing to do whatever Jesus told them to do. The innocence of the child enabled learning to take place. That example is for everyone today! With a humble heart, we can learn spiritual lessons of faith and trust in God (to whom we owe everything). A small child is ready to receive information, so we must be ready to receive spiritual lessons of faith and trust.

Jesus gave a personal example of what a servant’s heart will do. The disciples were arguing again over who had the most important position, while the Son of God was washing their feet. (Luke 22:25-26), "Jesus said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves."

Jesus continued with His menial task, while they fought over position. He knew they had a need, so He wanted to send a message. He wasn’t concerned about His image, but He was concerned about their pride and self-importance. The example He set for them then is an example for us now! Learning to listen is the attitude of a servant.

It may seem difficult to help those who don’t deserve help, but to forgive is to forget, so we respond to the need, and put the past in the past. (Romans 13:8), "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another."

Divine love doesn't keep score but just forgives the wrong. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs," (1 Corinthians 13:4-5).

A person with the mind of Christ just keeps on helping, no matter how little help is received in return. A humble position is the learning position (at the feet of Jesus). Christ knows that we cannot help ourselves, so He "humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:8). He died for us, because of His love for us. The only person on earth who didn't have to die, gave Himself to die so that we could be saved.

"For a good man someone might possibly dare to die," the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans (5:7). But to die for our enemy! Most of us would have a problem with that! Nevertheless Jesus died, "while we were still sinners [and enemies of God]" (vs 8).

That divine love proves that our life is of great value to God! It just needs to be cleaned up. ‘Come as you are,’ is the call of God. The promise of 2 Corinthians 5:17 takes care of any cleansing needed. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

Are we connected to Christ? Are we learning to listen to the One who has all the answers? It is simply a choice, but it is a very important choice at that! It is the choice to "humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you," (James 4:10).

Have we looked down on other people, groups, cultures, or nationalities? Prejudice proceeds from pride. Prejudice means to pre-judge someone. According to Jesus we are not to judge others, but to pray for them. Any self-importance is from Satan. To be conceited is to be carnal. If we have forgotten how to listen, it is time for serious adjustments, and time to ask God to remove any pride or conceit.

By the grace of God we can consider others first (and always ahead of our own interests). We should sympathize rather than criticize. By the ability God will give, let us talk less and listen more because James (1:19) says to, "take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."

Anyone could speak with Christ (at any time and for any reason). He said ‘let the children come to me...don’t stop them.’ The attitude of a child is the attitude that inherits the kingdom. Anyone could speak with Jesus in the first century, and today we still can. "If I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" (John 12:32 KJS).

As we follow Christ (by the power of His Spirit), we begin to see the value of every human life because Christ suffered and died for everyone. Jesus gave His life for the world (but so few are listening and so few are accepting what He offers)…a new life in Him. "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely," (Revelation 22:17).

When the time had come and the day had arrived, Jesus allowed hypocrites to condemn Him, the self-righteous to insult Him, and the wicked to nail Him to a cross. There has never been a more powerful demonstration of the compassion and love of Christ than that! No greater love was ever shown.

He was God in the flesh, the Gentle Shepherd, and our blessed Savior helping, serving, giving, and dying to save us from the lake of fire. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself," (are His words to the world, but who is listening?)

By the mercy and grace of God let us be willing to listen to the One who walks with us (to show us the way). Let us always be quick to listen and ready to learn from Him who alone can save us. (1 Peter 1:9), "For you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."