Being Dull is OK?

Scripture


John 11:11-16
11After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up."
12His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." 13Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."
16Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."


Mark 7:17-18
17After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18"Are you so dull?" he asked.


Observation
Jesus was two miles from where Lazarus was when he became sick-deathly sick, and Mary requested that Jesus come. The Bible does not say what Jesus continued to do, but it says that he stayed where he was for two more days. He heads out to Bethany where Lazarus is, and he is tells the disciples that "their friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but he is going to wake him up." The disciples reply, "Well, if he is sick(implied) and sleeping, then he will wake up(implied) and get better." So he comes the fastball right down the center of the plate-verse 14..."So then he told them plainly, Lazarus is dead." I don't know the time frame, as to how many years now the disciples have been with Christ, but it's been a while; and the disciples still need Jesus to speak plainly to them. Why were the disciples so unable to understand what Jesus was telling them? From life experiences it appears the disciples were like kindergartners who you have to sit down and say, "Here are the crayons-blue/orange/red/yellow/green, and here is the paper. Pick up the crayon, put it between your fingers, apply the crayon to the paper and make a line down, across, back up, and across again to make a square." When it should be, "everyone get out your crayons, paper and draw a square".


Application
Who am I? Am I the disciple who is clueless to what Jesus is saying, and Jesus has to get right in front of me, bend down to look at me, look me straight in the eyes, asks me to look him straight in the eyes, asks me if he has my attention, asks me if I am ready to listen and then talks to me real slow so I don't miss anything, or miss interpret any words? I definitely don't want to be that guy, and I would think that most a Christians would not want to be that guy. But does it really matter? Yes. Because I want to clearly hear God when he speaks to me, however he speaks. A good friend recently blogged this---I do talk with God like I would talk with anybody else. Yes, He talks with me too. Sometimes, He points at something as I pass by in my life. He says, "Hey, Look at this! Do you see what I see?" Sometimes I think He's just playing with my mind, but then, as my eyes focus, I really do see what He sees.


But in the much broader scope the answer is No. Why? In Lamentaions 3:23 it talks about the Lords compassion's: They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. So if I don't hear it right-God tells me that He's got me covered; if I don't act right-God's got me covered; if I am too busy for ......-God's got me covered, if God has to speak to me plainly-He's still got me covered; if I am dull-God's got me covered. What a wonder!!!! I want to know God more, I want to hear him-whether through the Word, or seeing His creation for what it is, having the Holy Spirit speak to my spirit, etc. But if I don't, Jesus will still speak to me, walk next to me, he won't leave because I continue to frustrate him and "he just can't put up with it any more." He will extend his nail scarred hand to me, and continue walking with me in process.

Prayer

Father, In so many ways I am like the disciples who were dull of hearing what Jesus was really trying to say, and Jesus had to break it down in "plain English" to them. I don't want to be like them, I want to hear and understand things clearly from you. I pray that you would forgive me when I attempt to put on my own filters of your voice and direction. I thank you that your mercy is ever extended when I miss the mark. Help my spirit be "laser locked" into you, and your ways so your glory will be revealed more each day. Amen.