Are we listening?

So that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand. (Luke 8:10)

These words of Jesus are puzzling at first glance. Did he really mean that his reason for telling parables was so that people would not understand them? Certainly not! That would be just plain cruel. No, Jesus wanted to reach everyone. He told parables precisely because with their rich stories and familiar images, they are easier to understand. Most of Jesus’ listeners weren’t schooled in Scripture. So he gave them simple stories they could relate to, such as the parable of the prodigal son or this parable of the sower and the seeds, so that his teaching could find a home in their hearts.

Today’s parable is especially important because it deals with the word of God, which is “able to save your souls” (James 1:21). As he often did, Jesus was overdramatizing by using a little reverse psychology. If you tell someone they may have difficulty hearing you, they will most likely perk up their ears when you speak. And since the very subject of the parable is the importance of hearing, the more likely it is that we will really listen and become the kind of “soil” that produces good fruit. 

So how do we know if our ears are open? We know if the word we hear produces an effect, if our lives are changing. The whole point of the parable is to bring us to obey God’s word. The root of the word obey means both “to listen” and “to be persuaded.”

Today in your prayer time, try taking a “hearing test.” Read the parable out loud, slowly. Invite the Holy Spirit to listen with you. Are there particular points where he is telling you, “Stop; pay attention”? Perhaps something you read pricks your conscience. Perhaps something gives you a little sense of excitement or hope or direction. Whatever happens, let that word take root. Let it be translated from a thought into an action. Then make a note of what you have heard, and try to follow through on it. Try your best to approach it “with a generous and good heart,” and you’ll find it bearing wonderful fruit in your life (Luke 8:15).

“Lord, help me to be an obedient servant who hears you clearly, not just with my ears, but with my whole heart.”

from wau.org

He calls....Are you listening?

 Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them… (Luke 14:25)

Try to imagine yourself among the people following along behind Jesus. Questions are swirling around you; some are laughing, and some are crying, as the crunch of feet on the ground grows. Suddenly Jesus stops, turns around, and looks right at you. Did I do something? Jesus begins to speak, and it is as if everyone else disappears.

Luke’s little detail about Jesus stopping, turning, and speaking seems deliberate. He wanted to emphasize Jesus’ desire to get the people’s full attention as he spoke words crucial to their faith. This was not a time for idle chatter or casual conversation. It was a time to let every word soak in. And for those who did pay close attention, the words changed their lives.

Every day, Jesus, the Son of the living God, wants to speak to you! He wants to take your face in his hands and say, “Look at me. Listen closely. This is important. I want you to receive it.” He asks you to set aside your own thoughts, ideas, and plans, and try your best to imagine looking into his eyes. This is a holy moment, when he can move your heart and form your mind. It’s a sacred time, when he can give you the grace you need to love him and follow him. It’s a golden opportunity for him to chip away at the hard outer layer of your heart so that he can find new ways to teach you and love you.

Day in and day out, we are surrounded by distractions—both interior and exterior. There is so much “chatter” trying to pull us away from Jesus and from one another. How encouraging, then, to know that we have a Redeemer who will never stop trying to get our attention! Day after day, he wants to turn to us, look us in the eye, and tell us about his love, his will, and his salvation. So don’t let the chatter drown him out! 

“Jesus, thank you for calling my name and speaking to my heart. Open my ears to hear you above all the noise in my day.”

Taken from wau.org.