The fruit of a mature spirituality is to be an incarnational presence to other people. It was for Jesus. It is, I believe, for all his followers, especially for those of us in leadership.
The Gospels are filled with accounts of Jesus’ interactions with individuals: Matthew, Nathaniel, a prostitute, Nicodemus, a blind man, a Samaritan woman and many others. When the rich, young ruler came up to him, Jesus “looked at him and loved him.” He listened. He was present, never in a rush or distracted. He took the time to explore stories.
When is the last time someone said to you, “Let me tell you about those Christians—they are fantastic listeners! I have never seen a group of people more sincerely interested to know my world, who are curious, who ask questions, who actually listen to me!”
Listening is not simply a key discipleship issue. It is a core leadership issue. Give yourself this little listening test. Circle all the statements you can affirm. Read More
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