Listening: March 12, 2013

TODAY’S WORD FOR TUESDAY MARCH 12, 2013.

LISTENING

DEFINITION:

To give attention with the ear; to heed; to obey.

SCRIPTURE:

He who has ears, let him hear. Matthew 13:9

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Are you a good listener? Most people today do not know how to listen. In this so called “ME” generation it is not important to most people what other people think so why listen? In Today’s Word we want to have each of us, first of all, evaluate how we listen to God’s Word. The scripture contains some critical information for us, but most people, even believers, approach how they listen very differently. In Matthew 13 we have identified for us, four types of listeners.

There are listeners that listen with a closed mind. They listen passively without any intent to apply what they hear or read to their life. The seed cannot germinate because the soil’s surface is too hard. When we have a closed mind God’s Word cannot penetrate. Such believers remain shallow until they decide to pay attention to God and obey.

Then there are those who listen with a clouded mind. In this passage found in Matthew 13, Jesus refers to the rocky soil to a clouded mind. They will listen and hear the Word of God and get all excited, but they do not take the time to study, grow roots, and let the truth sink into his or her heart. With little doctrinal foundation or knowledge of God’s promises, their faith is easily weakened by the harsh realities of life and soon dies.

There are listeners that listen with a cluttered mind. The worries of life are to the Christian heart what briars, thorns, and thickets are to a garden. A preoccupied mind has little or no room for God’s Word to sprout and thrive.

And then there is a listener with a committed mind. God can do great things through someone whose mind is like fertile soil. The most intellectual person in the world, if not teachable, will miss the truth of the gospel, whereas a young child who is willing to listen and learn will be transformed.

As believers in Jesus we must desire to have hearts and minds that are like fertile soil. We must have a willingness to listen and listen receptively to what God has for us. By an act of your will, choose to listen purposely when you read the Bible or hear it preached. A good listener will clear his or her mind of all outside clutter. Get your mind off of your concerns in life. Satan will use these concerns to clutter and distract from what God has for you. Satan vies with God for your full attention.

God’s Word is God’s standard by which you must evaluate your life style. To defeat Satan you must be willing to apply the truths that the Holy Spirit impresses upon your heart. God will honor you if you step out by faith and then you will see that God can be fully trusted to get you through all of life’s concerns.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in I John 1:9.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

PRAYER:

Help me to not only be a good listener to what You are teaching me but to be able to apply the teachings I learn from You to the way I act and live. Help me daily to strive to obey the scripture and to glorify Your name.