How You Listen

Therefore, consider carefully how you listen. (Luke 8:18, NIV 1984).

My Musings – An interesting choice of words. Not “[what] you listen [to],” but “how you listen.” What people listen to does not always determine how they receive what is being communicated. But how (the manner or way) they listen can make all the difference in the world.

Jesus had just finished the parable of the Sower of the seed. Seed that had fallen on all kinds of soil. Along the path. On rocky soil. Among the thorns. On good soil. “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” (Luke 8:11–15, NIV 1984).

The all heard the same thing. They all considered carefully “what” the Word of God said. But ‘how” they listened determined if they retained, persevered and produced a truly changed life.

My Advice – He has “set before [us] life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that [we]… may live and that [we] may love the Lord [our] God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is [our] life.” (Deuteronomy 30:19–20, NIV 1984). The way in which we hear, determined whether we will “hold fast to Him.“