Recently while reading through Luke 8 I noticed how the
headings that editors have added to the text can actually distract us from the
continuity of the text. Verses 4-21 have a common thought, yet many Bibles
break it up into multiple sections.
Verses 4-15 talk about the seed being sowed. In this and in the
parallel passage in Matthew 13, Jesus explains that He is talking about how
people respond when they hear the word of the kingdom. Those who truly hear the
Word are those who act on it and bear fruit. Verse 16 at first seems to be a
new thought, but really is just an example to illustrate what He has just said.
Those who are hearing and are bearing fruit are lights shining in the darkness.
If we’re hiding the light, we are failing to obey what we’ve been told. Then in
verses 19-21 Jesus reiterates that those who hear His word and do it are part
of His eternal family.
The question I’ve been asking myself is whether there are
things God has told me to do that I am not doing. Am I really listening to what
He has to say? I’ve been convicted on that this week in one particular area. I
had made a decision based on human logic and didn’t really seek God’s will. It
seemed pretty straightforward at the time, but there were unexpected complications
that made me reverse the decision. What I heard from various Scriptures was “Are
you going to trust Me with this?”
In the Bible there are
many references to hearing and listening. The book of Proverbs alone has more
than thirty admonitions to listen to God and His wisdom. “Let the wise hear and
increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance” (Proverbs 1:5 ESV).
We all tend to hear what we want to hear. We listen to people who affirm our
preconceived notions, while often ignoring those that challenge us.
We need constant exposure to words of truth. As Jimmy Needham wrote, “You cannot love [God] with all your heart, soul, and mind
without a steady diet of Scripture.” I would suggest that should include both
reading and listening. We need to see the words on the pages of our Bibles, but
we also need to hear it taught and explained in the fellowship of a local
church. I am continually surprised by the statistics of how many people who
call themselves Christians don’t read the Bible and/or don’t participate in
weekly worship. Some of them may one day hear the dreaded words, “Depart from
Me, I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23). Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and
I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). If we aren’t hearing and
following, can we really say that we know Him?
As we prepare for a new year, perhaps we all need to make a
greater effort to hear and heed what God is saying to us. We may discover we’ve
been tuning Him out more than we realize.
“This is my beloved
Son; listen to Him” (Mark 9:7b).
© 2018 Dawn
Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from
pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of
my church or employer.
