And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: "The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:

"'Go to this people, and say,
"You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive."
For this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed;
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.'

Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen." — Acts 28:24-28

So Paul is finally in Rome. At the time, this was the greatest city in the Roman world. Paul is under house arrest, and still, he is teaching. And we discover that while he never stopped trying to reach his fellow Jews, even at the cost of his reputation, he has now drawn the same conclusion as Isaiah — some of God's people will not listen.

As we close off this remarkable book, I pray that you will take some great learnings with you from this book. But this last lesson is so critical. It's this — keep listening to God.

We, men, are prone to becoming unreceptive. Unreceptive to people. Unreceptive to change. Unreceptive to truth. And we will put up safeguards to keep us from these people, change, and truths primarily because we prefer our way over someone else's. But sometimes, our ways keep us from knowing The Truth.

And this is what Paul wanted Jews to know — The Truth from the God of all truth. But then there came a day he realized the prophecy of Isaiah. That God's people, the Jews, had become unreceptive to hearing the truth. Therefore salvation would be sent to those who would listen and believe, and ironically it was the people Jews called "Gentiles" or "non-believers."

Today this message is still true. The good news of Jesus is for anyone and everyone who will believe. But it is only for those who are receptive to The Truth. So my friends, stay in that receptive place. Listen to God's truth. And believe.

ASK THIS: What do you need to do to listen better to The Truth?

DO THIS: Reject stubbornness, and listen.

PRAY THIS: God, show me how to listen to you better today.

PLAY THIS: Chris McClarney — I'm Listening.

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