Mark 4: Pay Attention to What You Hear

Today’s reading is Mark 4.

If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.

What an odd thing to say. Doesn’t everyone have ears? Yes. And No. Jesus was not distinguishing between those who could audibly hear and those who were deaf. He was actually bringing back into mind that reference He made to Isaiah 6. Some people will see, but not perceive. They will hear, but not understand. “Don’t just hear,” Jesus says. “Understand!” Don’t just let the words audibly enter your ears. Don’t just read the words on the page. Recognize they mean things. Recognize they have consequences. Recognize they should impact us and change us.

Therefore, we need to pay attention to what we hear. Literally, Jesus commands us to “See what you hear.” Even in this command He uses forms of the words in His reference to Isaiah 6: “See,” “Hear.”

Be careful how you look, be careful how you hear. Take pains with. Take care with it. Pay attention to what you are doing. Don’t be careless and reckless. Don’t think because you’ve read through some passage and had some initial thoughts you’ve figured out or understood what the teaching is.

Observe as you read Scripture and as you listen to it being taught. How much care should you take? How much observing should you do? That depends on how much you want to get out of it. The measure you use in your observation, your meditation, your rumination will be the measure you receive in your understanding. In fact, when you take pains and take care to observe and pay attention to your looking and listening to God’s Word, He will multiply the effectiveness of the work you are putting into it. He will measure back to you according to the measure you supply and will add even more.

However, if you decide a cursory listen, a once over, a quick read, a reliance on first impressions is plenty, even what you have will be taken away. That is, even the understanding you have now will be destroyed as your misunderstandings mount up and attack foundations of understanding which once were laid within you.

Jesus is the light. We don’t put Him under a basket. Rather, we lift Him and His Word up for all to see and hear. But let us be certain to listen. To listen carefully. To listen with a view to application and transformation.

In fact, when I listen but without the care and attention to understand, I won’t find forgiveness. That sounds a lot like what Jesus said about the person who committed blasphemy of the Holy Spirit back in Mark 3:28-29, doesn’t it? When I refuse to listen to the truth revealed by God, when I refuse to listen carefully, that’s when I won’t be forgiven. That is when I’m blaspheming God’s Spirit.

Listen up! Pay attention! God will be with you if you do.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Mark 4.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Mark 4 prompt or improve your trust in God?

Marriage and Money

Today’s reading is Hebrews 13.

As our author nears the end of his letter/sermon, he gives some specific instructions. Throughout the book, he has provided overarching principles and concepts, stressing the need to hang on to Jesus and submit to the new covenant mediated by Him instead of going back to the Law. As he wraps up, he provides some practical applications.

Yesterday, we saw the command to continue brotherly love. He quickly follows up with two more concepts.

First, every aspect of marriage is honorable, precious, valuable including the bed within it. Bluntly, sex within marriage is honorable, precious, valuable. It is undefiled and undefiling. However, sex outside of marriage is defiled. It is contemptible and condemnable. While God honors those who participate in sexuality within marriage, He judges those who go outside the marriage bond. According to 1 Timothy 4:3, some were forbidding marriage. But marriage is not forbidden, it is honorable.

Second, while walking in this new covenant, we need to flee covetousness and pursue contentment. However, notice clearly the basis of our contentment. Our author is not saying, “Don’t love money, but be content with the amount of money you have.” Rather, he says, “Don’t love money, but be content because you have God.” God is ours. It doesn’t matter how much money we have, we have God. God is all we need. God will provide all we need.

These two points are profoundly important. Because let’s face it. Two of the top temptations pulling people away from Jesus are sex and money. These two are not wrong on their own. But through desire for them, the devil has pulled many people away. Use these properly, they are honorable and God-glorifying. Use them incorrectly, they are soul-destroying. Both of these are great servants, but they are terrible masters.

No matter what we face or what temptations our enemy puts under our noses, may we remember in Christ we have God. Why would we want to throw that away for anything?

Tomorrow’s reading is Hebrews 13.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. Why do you think anyone would want to hinder or forbid marriage in general?
3. Why is it important to realize having God is more important than having money?
4. How can we overcome the temptations to immorality and covetousness and instead be satisfied and content with having God?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?