Can You Handle It?
Scripture: Mark 4:21-25
"21 Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. 22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. 23 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” 24 Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. 25 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”
Observations:
Jesus often taught that the Kingdom of God is very similar to planting seeds in the ground and watching them grow. His teachings, when obeyed by those who hear them, produce real understanding. No one would turn on a lamp and then throw it in the closet. Why? Because it defeats the purpose. Jesus makes the same connection between listening and gaining understanding that applies to every single human being that possesses ears. The point He's making is that just because you have ears doesn't mean that you're really listening. In fact the majority of the people who heard Jesus speak didn't really understand Him due to the fact that they weren't really listening. But here Jesus makes it crystal clear that the only way to understand God's Word is by "listening to" (obeying) it.
Application:
Often times it's easy to allow ourselves to slip into neutral when it comes to applying God's Word because we tend to equate hearing with listening when in reality they are two distinct functions. It's only as we put into practice the things we hear that Jesus says we gain true understanding (vs. 25a). However, the opposite is also true- the less we put God's Word into practice the less we are able to understand. In fact, James says that those who do nothing but hear God's Word and never do what it says are only fooling themselves (James 1:22). In one sense is it dangerous to sit in church, at a Bible study, or even read this blog if you have little or no real intention of actually following the instructions found in God's Word. But we can just as easily make a conscious choice to develop the kind of teachable attitude that welcomes the very Word of God to "teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives...[to] correct us when we are wrong and teache us to do what is right...and to prepare and equip [us] to do every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Prayer:
Father, help us to listen and obey the truth as Your Spirit reveals it to us today. Help us not to harden our hearts against the convicting power of Your Word but soften us and make us teachable and able to understand what is right and holy. Expose the areas in our lives where we have deceived ourselves and bring them in line with the truth of Christ. Amen.
"21 Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. 22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. 23 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” 24 Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. 25 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”
Observations:
Jesus often taught that the Kingdom of God is very similar to planting seeds in the ground and watching them grow. His teachings, when obeyed by those who hear them, produce real understanding. No one would turn on a lamp and then throw it in the closet. Why? Because it defeats the purpose. Jesus makes the same connection between listening and gaining understanding that applies to every single human being that possesses ears. The point He's making is that just because you have ears doesn't mean that you're really listening. In fact the majority of the people who heard Jesus speak didn't really understand Him due to the fact that they weren't really listening. But here Jesus makes it crystal clear that the only way to understand God's Word is by "listening to" (obeying) it.
Application:
Often times it's easy to allow ourselves to slip into neutral when it comes to applying God's Word because we tend to equate hearing with listening when in reality they are two distinct functions. It's only as we put into practice the things we hear that Jesus says we gain true understanding (vs. 25a). However, the opposite is also true- the less we put God's Word into practice the less we are able to understand. In fact, James says that those who do nothing but hear God's Word and never do what it says are only fooling themselves (James 1:22). In one sense is it dangerous to sit in church, at a Bible study, or even read this blog if you have little or no real intention of actually following the instructions found in God's Word. But we can just as easily make a conscious choice to develop the kind of teachable attitude that welcomes the very Word of God to "teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives...[to] correct us when we are wrong and teache us to do what is right...and to prepare and equip [us] to do every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Prayer:
Father, help us to listen and obey the truth as Your Spirit reveals it to us today. Help us not to harden our hearts against the convicting power of Your Word but soften us and make us teachable and able to understand what is right and holy. Expose the areas in our lives where we have deceived ourselves and bring them in line with the truth of Christ. Amen.
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