Ears to hear

26 July 2023 Reflection

“Whoever has ears ought to hear.” - Matthew 13:9

At the end of today’s parable, Jesus proclaimed these words: “Whoever has ears ought to hear.” Wait, what? Those who have ears should hear? Of course everyone has ears, so unless one is deaf the rest will be able to hear, right?

Jesus is not speaking of the external ear here. Rather, He emphasizes the need to let our heart and spirit be able to hear the message He wants to convey. There is a reason why He taught and proclaimed in parables and in figurative speeches. It was intentionally done so that those who are really eager to learn on His teachings will be able to fully understand His message.

Once the message is fully understood, there needs to be obedience in the teaching. And once there is obedience, there is abiding in His presence. Jesus encouraging others to hear what He is saying is to also be encouraged to fully obey in His words.

To hear Jesus speak is to obey Him.

By our own strength and will this cannot be possible; if we rely on our own to fully grasp the Truth of His teaching we may be swayed to false beliefs and easy promptings of the enemy.

Branches cannot bear fruit without being attached to the vine; likewise we will not bear fruit when we are not connected in fullness with Jesus.

For us to be fruitful, we must learn to fine tune our spiritual ears to identify Jesus speaking. His words bring life and light that provides clarity and peace amidst confusion. We have the tendency to be a path, or a rocky soil, or a thorny path, and at times it may seem to be a farfetched idea to become a good and bountiful soil. But inasmuch as we strive to work on reforming our hearts, Jesus is also at work in our lives as well. If we allow Him to take control of the entirety of our being, we will realize that we are destined to become good soils that produce the abundance of God’s harvest.

We bear fruit by understanding, obeying, and abiding, and making our hearts dwell in Jesus.

So if we find ourselves still living in the exposed road path, or on the scorching rocky soil, or on the choking thorny path, take heart and have hope. Unless we have a heart and spirit that hear and obey Jesus’ words, the state we are in is still not our final destination. Seek Him, then dwell in Him, and allow Him to cultivate the heart into a rich and nourishing soil.

Dear Papa,

Your words echo in me today, I thank You for revealing to me Your message.

There was a time that I thought I had a heart likened to a good soil. I was consistent in my prayers. I was focused on Your word. But I was believing in the false truth. I was acting out of my own pride. Trials came which caught me off-guard. I almost turned away from You yet again.

It was when I realized I was still on a rocky soil and a thorny path. My heart is still easily distracted, easily swayed to give in to my weaknesses. I am hearing You speak but I do not allow Your word to grow.

I am sorry, Papa, for continually offending You. I ask for forgiveness for all my shortcomings. I give You permission to make my heart cultivated, tilled, dug out, purged out of weeds, and sown with Your seeds of life.

The journey towards good soil is filled with challenges and tribulations, but I choose to desire it, because it is where I will bear the fruits of Your presence.

Abide in me, stay with me, and dwell in me. My hope is placed in You, and my life I offer to You. All these I pray in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Saviour, together with the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

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