Less Spam!
I've had a frustrating week. Each week, after hours of
research, preparation, several drafts and revisions, our Notes hit the
Internet, heading toward friends scattered about the world. And many return
unread. Why? Spam filters. They're designed to look for words someone
somewhere has decided are often found in Spam. Simple words. Ordinary words.
Words we use every day. Even religious words.
Numbers are assigned to each one and when a certain score is reached, the
email is labeled as Spam. And unless you've told the program to put such
email in a Junk box so you can make sure it's actually something you don't
want, the email is rejected. And you never...ever...know it was sent.
Recently Notes have returned with messages like, The message has too high
Spam probability, Subject of email not allowed by server, Email contains
content rejected by filter, Server permanently rejected message, Filter will
not allow this message, and my personal favorite, This smells like Spam.
I complained to God and asked Him for a solution to this terrible dilemma.
He gave me none. Instead, He answered with a question. Why do you treat my
messages like Spam? There is a lesson here, one that reaches beyond emails
and servers all the way to our hearts. This is what I've learned.
Like those sophisticated programs, we have our own filter, selecting what we
will receive and what we will reject. Words are identified…command, obey,
instruction, trust, faith, judgment, always, never. Phrases are
flagged…follow me, you must, believe in, the will of God, stop sinning,
don't be afraid, you are, I am, listen to my voice. And the result? Filter
will not allow this message. Long ago, God saw this.
Do not merely hear the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Anyone who hears the word but does not do what it says is like a man who
looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and
immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into
the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting
what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does. James
1:22-25
Akroates, the word used for hear, means merely to hear. It's like music
playing in the background with no one paying attention. We hear it and
somewhere inside know that it's music, but we don't pick up on the words,
the melody or tempo. We never stop our talking or doing whatever it is we're
doing long enough to recognize where the music is trying to take us. It is
nothing more than noise to us.
But parakupto, which means look intently into, is very different. Imagine a
man, woman and child on a quest for treasure buried deep in a forest. The
man looks up to Heaven, talking without end of their need for a map. The
woman looks at the trees, plotting a course around what could stand in their
way.
Ah, but the child. For hours he searches through the roots and leaves until
at last he finds a hole dug in the soft earth. Intent on his mission, he
bends over, leaning far inside. His eyes adjust to the light, and there,
within easy reach, he finds the prize. That's parakupto! That's the kind of
listening we need. No constant talking or chosen distractions. But real
effort to find and understand.
Solomon once wrote that when we call out for insight and understanding,
searching for them as though they are hidden treasure, we could understand
the fear of the LORD, find the knowledge of God, and know what is right and
just and fair – every good path. (Proverbs 2:3-9) But he also pointed out
that before any of this can occur, God places a requirement on each of us.
If you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear
to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding… (Proverbs 2:1-2) No
filters. No conditions on what we will accept from Him. No reply, Subject of
message not allowed. Only the response that declares, We will listen, we
will seek understanding, we will do what you tell us, and we will be blessed
in what we do.
The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any
who understand, any who seek God. (Psalms 14:2) Where does He find you? Take
care and be God's,
Chuck Graham
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