ALL LISTENING IS NOT THE SAME

DAY 126/366

Acts 18:26 When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately.

In our text today, we read about Apollos and his encounter with Priscilla and Aquila. We identify that even though Apollos was accurate in his message, in listening to him, Priscilla and Aquila noticed that despite his accuracy, there was still information lacking in his message. Therefore, the gaps had to be filled to make him ‘more accurate’.

You can be accurate with the information you have and the knowledge you possess, but this does not mean that you have complete information. And incomplete information could become as dangerous as no information.

Listening is skill that requires conscious effort and singular focus, because you can hear but not listen. There are very different ways to listen: listening for information, listening to judge, listening for defense, or you can listen to improve. Each of them has its place.

Listening to improve however requires the presence of a listener with a disposition to improve, and a speaker with an openness to improve. Both of these elements were present in today’s discourse, hence the outcome we read about. Let us have the right disposition when listening because not all listening is for the same purpose.

#sly