EARS OF UNDERSTANDING

12 MAY 2021

Our ears of understanding enable us to hear, accept and understand the truth of God's Word. They aid us to understand spiritual realities. In other words, they are tools of spiritual understanding that grasp spiritual wisdom and knowledge of the will of God.

Reference: Mark 4:9 New American Standard Bible (NASB) "And He was saying, 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear.'"

The words of Jesus are spirit and life and they bear good fruits. Hearing and believing His Word is what make the knowledge of God's will possible and achievable. For every Christian, it takes the ears of understanding to hear and accept the knowledge of God's will, which is superior to worldly secular wisdom. When our hearts are not submitted to God, our ears of understanding can become hard of hearing.

For instance, when you see a Christian who walks in unbelief, it can cause hard of hearing. In this context, those who tend to be hard of hearing are not those who are deaf in the natural sense. So Jesus is talking about spiritual hearing and deafness (see also Isaiah 42:20). Those who can't hear spiritually, don't have the ability, desire and willingness to accept the Word of God. They are hardened, shallow and easily distracted.

Psalm 111:10 (ESV) reads, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who follow His commandments have a good understanding." It takes our ears of understanding to hear and follow the wisdom of God's Word and to ensure that our choices align with His will. And this is very important because the quality of our lives are the very result of all the choices we make. That means, godly results are based on godly choices prompted by the wisdom of God.

The Knowledge of God's will has a specific purpose. It's main purpose is to change your heart. When heard and received, its like a seed that falls into a good soil and produces good fruit. Mark 4:8 (ESV) reads, "And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." Considering the results or benefits, Jesus admonishes us saying, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." In other words, He is giving us the opportunity to decide how much spiritual truth we can absorb, which is always for our own good.

Our ability to demonstrate and experience the lasting benefits of spiritual knowledge is based on our willingness to hear and understand the truth it communicates. Nobody will do it for you, except you. That's the true meaning of "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." It didn't say, "people who have ears should hear it for others." You are the one to condition or coordinate your spiritual ears and senses and yield them to the intelligence of the Holy Spirit, so you can comprehend. Yes, it's your responsibility. Glory to God.

In Ephesians 4:11-12, the Bible says, "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up" (NIV). Though we are blessed with apostles, prophets, teachers and more, they are positioned to explain the truth, build and equip the saints, but hearing them and receiving the truth are still our individual responsibility. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Ezekiel 12:2; Matthew 13:13-16; Colossians 1:9;Revelation 2:7; Revelation 2:29.

Guided Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank you for the knowledge of your Word, which is eternal truth, and for the ability to hear and understand it. I'm forever grateful that I'm neither dull of comprehension nor left in ignorance, rather I'm deeply plugged into the truth. As I hear, perceive, receive your wisdom and apply it, I effectually turn on my divine provision, healing and health, prosperity and living faith, and I bear fruits of righteousness, to your own glory in Jesus' Name, Amen!