“Love listens intently and then asks insightfully.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – June 16, 2025
As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along? Luke 24:15-17
Have you ever tried sharing your troubles with someone who immediately jumped to solutions before understanding your story? That well-intentioned advice often falls flat, doesn’t it? Not because the advice is wrong, but because the timing is. I’m struck by Jesus’ approach on that dusty road to Emmaus. Here was the risen Savior—the answer incarnate—walking alongside two heartbroken disciples. If anyone had the right to interrupt with, “Actually, let me explain what really happened,” it was Jesus. Instead, He chose the longer path of listening first.
“What are you discussing as you walk along?” He asks, acting ignorant about events He not only experienced, but orchestrated. Imagine the restraint this required! The Creator of the universe allowing His creatures to explain creation to Him. The author of the story letting others interpret His narrative. Why would Jesus do this? Perhaps because He knew something we often forget: people need to be heard before they can hear. My friend recently attended a gathering where a young person said something that is haunting: “I wish the Church would stop answering questions we’re not asking.” How often have we rushed to provide spiritual solutions to problems people aren’t actually experiencing? How frequently do we interrupt stories still being told?
Jesus models a different way. He walks alongside. He asks questions. He listens to their confusion, their disappointment, their shattered hopes. Only after they’ve emptied their hearts does He begin to fill them with truth. And here’s the beautiful result: “Stay with us,” they urged Him. The fruit of His listening was their invitation to a deeper relationship. In our hurried world, listening feels inefficient. We want to cut to the chase, deliver the message, and move on to the next spiritual transaction. But what if, like Jesus, we committed to hearing the story first? What if we traded quick fixes for patient presence? Love is patient and will listen now and talk later.
True listening requires humility—the admission that we might not fully understand another’s journey even when we think we do. It demands patience—allowing others to process at their own pace rather than ours. It necessitates curiosity—asking questions that expand conversation rather than conclude it. Tomorrow, try channeling your inner Emmaus Jesus. When someone shares their burden, resist the urge to immediately enlighten or correct. Instead, ask, “Tell me more about that.” Then watch what happens when people feel truly heard. The resurrected Christ didn’t begin with proclamation but with presence. Perhaps our witnessing should follow the same path.
Sit in prayer to listen to the Lord, before you walk with others to share the Lord. Before you pour, you must be filled. Before you speak, you must hear. The greatest spiritual guides aren’t those with polished answers, but those with practiced listening. Make silence your first sanctuary—a space where your restless thoughts settle like dust in still air. When you sit with the Lord before walking with others, your words carry the weight of heaven rather than the burden of self-effort. Your insights flow from encounter, not expertise. Ministry birthed in listening has authority no seminary degree can confer. People don’t need your wisdom nearly as much as they need what God has whispered to you in the quiet. Love listens intently and then asks insightfully.
Prayer
Lord, help me listen with a humble heart before I speak. Give me patience to hear fully, wisdom to respond gently, and grace to reflect Your love in every conversation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Application
Who needs your listening, discerning ear, and Spirit-led questions?
Related Reading
Proverbs 17:27-28, 18:13; Ecclesiastes 5:2; James 1:19
Worship Resource
Davy Flowers: No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus
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