"To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them."
Matthew 13:12
Matthew 13:12
"To those who listen"... the word listen always gets to me. Do you have a word like that? A word that when each time you hear it, your tummy churns a bit. I guess listen gets to me because I am not a good listener, at least I would not describe myself as a good listener. A good listener sits quietly with good eye contact and attentive ears, concentrating on what is being said, not what she/he will say next. The first two qualifiers are not difficult for me, it is the last one I have trouble with.
Jesus has unlocked a mystery for us in today's reading. The question we've probably all longed to have answered: How do I understand the teachings of the Lord? It is so simple I can't believe I have missed it for so long. In order to understand the teachings of the Lord we must listen Him. We must be good listeners. A good listener sits quietly with good eye contact and attentive ears, concentrating on what is being said not on what he/she is going to say next.
This is how Dictionary.com defines listen Are you ready for this?
- To given attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing
- To pay attention to; heed;obey
- To wait attentively for a sound
Can you only imagine the mysteries the Lord would help us understand if only we would wait attentively for a sound, with a willingness to obey?
How are you listening? Me? Not so good these days. I am losing more understanding than I am gaining but I have a feeling things will be turning around soon.
11 Comments:
Dear Wendy,
I hardly believe you are losing more understanding than you are gaining! If this were so, then you have a wealth of knowledge still unrevealed to us! Your words shine light on passages that are hard to hear and/or hard to understand. You peal away the surface knowledge and dig for a pearl of wisdom. I am very glad you hear the Word of the Lord and respond!
Matthew 13 was so rich today (no pun intended)! Comparisons of the Kingdom of Heaven to treasure and a pearl, where one who catches a glimpse sells everything they have to gain the treasure or pearl! But my nugget for today is Matthew 13:52
52 Then he added, “Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.”
And Wendy, I think this fits you too. You bring from your storeroom new gems of truth as well as old. Thank you!
Be blessed,
Karen, Basel
Amen to all that Karen wrote! Wendy, you are daily listening to His Word. The treasures you open up for us are evidence of your sitting and waiting before Him and looking into His eyes. You continue to be such a wonderful example and encouragement to me to keep daily listening as we walk through His word this year.
This morning I was caught by an invitation to a storm. “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” Mark 4:35
Christ issues an invitational command. In effect, He’s saying, “Let’s get into the boat. It’s test time.”
The journey to “the other side” welcomed winds. Sometimes the will of God includes a storm. When the whirlwind is God’s will, how do we weather it? How we survive will depend on our preparation. Have we practiced that discipline of listening that Wendy wrote about, not just feeling and the dedication of doing, not just knowing? Second-hand faith won’t help us reach our destination. God wants to shake us up a little and stretch our trust in Him.
The disciples, for the most part, were superb navigators on the sea. This was their area of expertise. Yet, even these professionals needed a personal Savoir. A call to “let’s go” ushers in the need of letting go. What needs to be released? Fear.
Jesus questions, “Where’s your faith?” Fear has swallowed it. Fear prevents us from reaching our other shore, yet it’s waves don’t have to keep us standing in the sand. As my Pastor once said, “Feelings are a good caboose, but not a good engine.” Christ wants us to risk, even if it’s a difficult horizon.
A storm often is God’s way to teach us about His authority and His pleasure in our living. If we anchor ourselves in God’s Word we will ride out the storm. God’s love is demonstrated in the midst of storms, for it is there He really shows us that He can, and will, look after us.
What shore is beckoning you to set sail? Don’t let the dark clouds overhead intimidate you. The living Christ is in the boat with you. You’ll reach the other side.
“Great acts of faith are seldom born out of calm calculation.” Max Lucado
Going to the other side,
Joy
I have often been told I am a good listener and often have people that want to talk to me. However I want to ponder your expanded definition of listening not only for those around me, but especially of Gods Word.
So many nuggets today, I want to be good soil, I want to have ears to hear and I want to be quick to obey.
Guess that enough of a "To Do" list for today. (smile)
Have a blessed day everyone!
Lynn - OR
Karen, You said it perfect and I want to just say I agree! Wendy... truly, you've been led by the Spirit this year; daily sharing nuggets with all of us! Thank you!
SOMEHOW, I even missed your main verse today! When I went back, I had not even underlined it! Whewie! When I think about the times I "hear" the Lord whispering to me, I'd have to say, that many times it is during my Bible reading or walk time. Those are times I am practicing "good listening," but, throughout the day, it is different. I find that I, personally, have to "on purpose," plan these quiet times into my day. It's harder for me during the day time when the "distractions" surround me. My mind seems to be going in a million different directions. Something that I really need to work on is, "praying without ceasing," like Paul said in I Thes.
I've become aware of how many times during the day where there are little lulls, that are perfect times to offer up praises and thanks to our Father. I'm looking for these moments and seizing the opportunity to talk to Jesus.
Our readings have been so full of inspiration; Jesus tells us quite plainly what we should be doing today to further His Kingdom:
(1) Yesterday, he said, Preach the Good News, (Luke 8:1), & (2) Support His ministry through offerings, (8:2-3), and today He adds, (3) Sow the seed (the Word- 8:4-15, & Shine His Light for all to see!
What is in my heart and life that keeps me from giving Christ my undivided attention? Thou shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, (Luke 10;27). My Study Bible terms this as, "total
devotion," which doesn't leave room for much else, does it?
Oh, Lord I want You to permeate through all of my heart, my soul, my body. Pass through every part, like the sun shining here in AZ. I want to be saturated with You. Everywhere. You.
Love you sisters! Thank you for bringing joy to my day. I love our "family!" Lori - AZ
Wendy – thanks for your message today. I had highlighted the same verse when I did my reading this morning! I wanted to share something with you – I found this somewhere – I didn’t come up with it.
The word “Listen” is an anagram of the word “Silent”
Anagram - a word, phrase, or sentence formed from another by rearranging its letters.
Sometimes I need to make sure I quit talking to God (be silent) and start listening.
Good stuff today ladies! Loving this reading...
Lori - send some sunshine to me in MN...we're shopping for scuba gear!
Good reading, good sharing all around people! Thanks Wendy for "listening" to the Holy Spirit and ministering to us here!
Morgen - MN
"I am losing more understanding than I am gaining but I have a feeling things will be turning around soon."
Ah Wendy, you are coming to the place of losing YOUR understanding, but gaining HIS wisdom - Prov 3:5-6 (I totally agree with Karen!) Everything we "expect" seems in contrast. When we get in the boat with Jesus we expect the waters to be calm, the trip to be carefree and pleasant... but it doesn't always happen that way. Then we begin to doubt our understanding and ask, "Who is this man?" We begin to see something (or Someone) much bigger than us... and suddenly we feel so small. Our faith seems small, and our understanding seems small. Yet our little faith seeds have fallen on the fertile soil of God's Word these past ten months... we may still seem small above ground, but we are putting down some deep roots! Thanks for lovingly tending the "garden" God has given you here :)
As I think of my friends, right off I can name several who have that wonderful gift of "listening". Oh how I wish I could do more of it. It honestly takes focused attention sometimes for me to be in the moment with the person talking. My mind is like a human gerbil wheel. I try to have the answer to the next question before it is asked. Over the years it has gotten better.
I love to close my eyes and just stand still right in the moment of of the day. No interruptions to the sound of my voice lifting unto the Lord. I can listen to what I am saying. I can hear me and I know He hears me. Doesn't it blow your mind to think how He can listen to all of us when the world isn't still?
Only when I listen, can I hear what He has to say to me. It is so simple but sometimes so hard.
Good stuff today friends,
Diane
We have got to talk soon! Sometimes God 'takes away our words' and gives us our 'break.' Heard that before? Can't wait to tell you all about it.
Love you!
I came back to let you know what happened today and that I had an opportunity ... A co-worker called and was rambling on and drawing out a request and putting all these words in there but not getting anywhere - and right when I wanted to wander in my mind God spoke and said Didn't you say you like to be listened to? Doesn't it upset you when people don't let you finish your explanation?
See just yesterday I had a situation with a customer service rep, that would not let me finish my story and then got really frustrated with me because they did some work and found out they didn't need to because they only listened to half of the story. So they transferred me to another Sales Rep, that admitted the first was upset and that they said I had a really long story. So again I tried to be short and sweet only to have them jump in again and start doing things only to find out that they too didn't get the whole of it and got a little (not at bad as the first) upset too.
So this really bothered me and I prayed to God and asked what am I to do. If I drag out the explanation they get mad if I don't tell enough they get confused and then mad... What am I to do.
Now back to today - That's what God was reminding me of. Then this mornings reading and your choice of scripture to teach on today.
So I stopped and really focused on what my co-worker was saying not how she was saying it. All of the sudden it was like a floodgate of understanding that had never been there between us opened up. We had a great conversation, we resolved the issue she was questioning, she took my advice and thanked me.
Coincidence I don't think so God is so good.
When I hung up I remembered something our Pastor had told us, if we want to speak into peoples lives and share the gospel with them we need to get to know them and earn their trust and respect. When I got off the phone I felt like that was a step to earning the right to speak into her life someday.
Thanks Wendy for picking that scripture to teach on today. It may have had an impact on all of us in different ways because God works with each of us where we are at, but I know God placed that there for a lesson for me.
Hope my revelations can be a blessing to someone else too!
Blessings everyone.
Lynn
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