It is not What Your Ears Hear That Matters.

“Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand! And be sure to pay attention to what you hear. The more you do this, the more you will understand-and even more, besides. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them.” Mark 4:23-25

We hear the word of God but do we listen and understand the word of God? The Pharisees and Sadducees heard the law, obeyed the law, and demanded the law be lived out. But when Jesus came and changed things up they became angry, angry because they didn’t want to hear what Jesus had to say and to offer. They were so stubborn they never let the words of Jesus go any deeper. They never listened and understood from their hearts and their minds. And when we do the same thing we too can become complacent, confused, and led in the wrong direction. We even miss out on all that God wants to teach us and give us.

When Jesus spoke in parables he did it to seek out those who were sincerely searching for the truth. He did it to challenge us to keep digging, searching and looking to Him for understanding.

He wants us to do more than just hear His message; He wants us to listen to it like we do a best friend. He wants us to understand the meaning of what He is saying so that we will benefit from it in the long run.

I have noticed that in my own relationship with Christ when I am listening with my heart the understanding He fills me with is limitless but the days I only listen with my ears I get frustrated, doubtful and confused about everything. I have to be very careful not to limit myself to only hearing what I want to hear from God. I know I have to be open to anything and everything He wants me to hear. That is how I grow, how I gain more understanding of whom He is and His word and how He and I become closer.

Hearing is important but listening and understanding from my heart is even more important.

Don’t get caught up in just hearing God’s word listen with your heart so more understanding will be given to you.

Prayer: Lord forgive me for not listening with the part of me that matters the most, my heart. I do so desperately want to understand Your word, so I ask that You continually remind me when I am only hearing with my ears and not my heart. Amen