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How should we listen to a journeying reality, no matter how ugly it is (Galatians 4:19)?
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The fragrance of grace should be upon us. We can hear about their current circumstances, but those don’t define them. Their identity in the Lord Jesus is what defines them, and that’s the core identity. We should listen with love and grace, and a vision for what God can do in them.
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We should listen with a vision of all that Christ desires them to be. This means listening to inner self first so the spirit doesn’t get blocked. It also means not trying to figure this person out, give advice or fix their problem. This listening must be without judgment and in a way that shows grace. As a result, this person could see your excitement, hope and ultimately what God desires for them. In other words, their full potential in God’s eyes.
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Celebrating that grace is sufficient to take the person from wherever they are and move them towards the vision God has for them. It is like being in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in them.
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To listen without judgement, knowing that God’s in control of all happenings and we all need His mercy and grace though we may not understand.
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Embrace the reality that the person is made in the image of God, no matter how ugly his/her life can be. He/she is not beyond redemption. We listen to his journey reality with a vision of Christ in him, and that will help ‘eliminate’ our judgmental spirit and our fleshy desires/responses.