Listen Up!

To "LISTEN" is defined as making a conscious effort TO HEAR or TO PAY ATTENTION. With all that is going on in life we may be surrounded by many audible sounds, but to what are we truly LISTENING? What are we really HEARING? What is it we have turned our ears toward.

When Jesus told the parable of the sower, it was sandwiched between the exhortation to "LISTEN" and "HEAR." We read. . .

"(3) 'LISTEN! A sower went out to sow.' " ( Mark 4:3 ESV)

. . . and following the parable. . .

"(9) And he said, 'He who has ears TO HEAR, LET him HEAR.'" ( Mark 4:9 ESV)

In the Greek we go from "akouete" (vs.3) to "akouein akoueto" (vs.9). The "LISTEN" and the literal "TO HEAR LET HEAR" all come from "akouo", which is the usual word signifying "TO HEAR". Strong's Greek Lexicon defines it as "to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf" and "to hear." Are we capable of HEARING? Then to what are we LISTENING?

How appropriate for the telling of this particular parable to begin and end with such an exhortation. It is a parable describing variations in the character of hearts; degrees of receptivity and a lack of it. God gave us ears and minds, but it is up to us how we will use them. How we are putting our HEARING and LISTENING skills to work is so important.

If we HEAR -- really listening to what God is saying through His Word -- and accept, our life will produce fruit ( Mark 4:8 & 20) in accordance with the truth of God's message. May our ears be lifted up above the noise of this realm to take in the teachings from Heaven.

Have a great day ALLOWING THE EARS GOD GAVE US TO WORK FOR US!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Listening