Why don’t you understand what I say?  Because you cannot listen to My word.  John 8:43 HCSB

The one who is from God listens to God’s words.  This is why you don’t listen, because you are not from God.  John 8:47 HCSB

Keep listening but do not understand;  keep looking but do not perceive.  Isaiah 6:9 HCSB

I was required to take three semesters of Spanish in college.  I do not speak it fluently by any means.  I can, however, understand some things when I hear it spoken.  Those who majored in Spanish would spend a semester in a Spanish speaking country and immerse themselves in the culture. They would go in as foreign exchange students and live with a family. This would give them the opportunity to not only learn the language quicker, but to understand the culture of the people.  I had a good friend and co-worker from Honduras and she would often explain some major cultural differences.

Our Christianity is much like learning a foreign language.  The best way to understand it is to immerse ourselves in the culture. I remember a time when I wanted to consider myself a Christian, but I was not living as a Christian should live.  I was not where I needed to be in my relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. During that time in my life, I spent little time in God’s word.  My prayers to God did not fit the model of prayer that Jesus gave His disciples in Matthew 6:9.  My prayers were more like 911 calls.  I wanted to be His child, but I wasn’t speaking His language. Even though I grew up in church, I had strayed and had forgotten my native language. Could you imagine being born into a household and not being able to understand the language of your family members.  That doesn’t happen, right?  Because our family teaches us how to speak.  We have the same accent and use the same slang.  We are born children of God, but we often don’t understand His word.

When we immerse ourselves in our relationship with Jesus Christ, we understand His word. Once I entered into close relationship with Him, it became clearer to me.  I now have a desire to spend time in God’s house studying His word.  I have a desire to spend time with people like me, those who are focused on Christ.

We don’t understand a language that we have not learned.  We won’t conduct ourselves like Christians just because we read a verse of scripture.  We must submit and surrender ourselves to Him.  We must strive to do His will and to imitate Him.

You probably won’t learn a lot of German by spending time in Mexico.  You also probably won’t be able to learn and understand God’s word by spending time in a barroom or at a sporting event.  You learn German by spending time in Germany, Spanish by spending time in Mexico and God’s word by spending time in church.

If God’s word seems like a foreign language to you, know that you can fully understand His word by immersing yourself in a Christian culture.  Turn to Him, become a student in His house.  Live with those who love the Lord and who speak the truth found in His word.  Show your love for others working in ministries alongside your fellow Christians.  You will be speaking fluent Christian in no time.

Have a great day!