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Technology has made information much more available and within our reach; the downside, we have become easily distracted. Rare are those who have the habit of being in the present. Or being still. Just look around. Chances are people are glued to their phones . . . in a group walking, standing, even while dining. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.¹ The Martha-and-Mary story is an apt illustration. Martha welcomed Jesus in her home and she was distracted with serving. Martha complained to Jesus that Mary had left her alone to do the serving. But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one this is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.² Martha failed the more important thing—to listen to Jesus and enjoy his company.

Before crossing over the Jordan into the promise land, Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.”³ Jesus spoke in parables to confound the wise⁴—the Parable of the Sower: After Jesus had given four different instances of sowing, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”⁵ At the Transfiguration Jesus’ appearance was altered; only Peter, John, and James witnessed the instance. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”⁶ 

In one of the Messianic Psalms of David, he wrote, I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard when he cried to him. In another Psalm, a Maskil of David, he says, But I call to God, and the LORD will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.⁷ Such confidence!

Contrast these Psalms to that of the wicked. The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies. They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear, so that it does not hear the voice of charmers or the cunning enchanter.^8.If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.⁹

But [Jesus] said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”¹⁰

And this is eternal life, that they may know you the only truly God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.¹¹ Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.¹² Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.¹³ The stark reality—no science, no religion, no philosophy, nor any worldly argument or rationalization—apart from knowing and believing the person of Jesus, there is no way, no truth, no life!

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.¹⁴