SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1191

“Ears to Hear”

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

I have age related hearing loss. My hearing ability gradually became dulled over time, and I was relatively unaware of the wide variety of sounds that I was missing until I was fitted with tuned hearing aids.

… And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. – 1 Kings 19:11-13

Elijah was able to hear the whisper of God because his heart was attuned to Him. How about our ability to hear the still small voice of God? We were so sensitive to it when we first accepted Christ and were saved, but then, over time our ability to hear became dulled as our hearts became hardened by sin and the cares of this world. A person’s ability to hear and receive God’s Word is determined by the condition of their heart. Jesus taught about this in the parable of the Sower.

…some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, …and…since it had no depth of soil…it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it… And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”- Mark 4:8-10

God’s Word is not just for a select few. It is for all of humanity – Those who have ears to hear. If our hearts are not distanced from God (seed along the path), or half-hearted toward God, playing church if you will (seed on rocky soil), or divided between the pleasures of the world and the kingdom of God (seed among thorns), then our hearts are like the good soil in the parable and we have ears that will hear His voice and allow His Word to bear fruit in our lives to His glory.

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life; Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; …Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me… Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; …. – Proverbs 4:23; Isaiah 55:1-3

Have your ears to hear the Word of God become dulled because rebellion has calloused your heart toward Him? God is persistent in speaking to you through the Body of Christ and His living Word. He will not give up on you.

Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not…; You have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear, although the Lord persistently sent to you all his servants the prophets – Ezekiel 12:2; Jeremiah 25:4

May your heart be changed, transformed, and renewed by the Holy Spirit. May your spiritual ears be attuned to His voice, no matter how faint, that you may clearly hear His direction amidst the cacophony of competing sounds from the cares of this world.