from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church https://ift.tt/2NzFRCp
via IFTTT Do you have ears? Not the ones on your head, but the ears of heart? Do you long to hear truth? Many don't. Some do. Jesus is not referring here to hearing words as if this was some school lesson. He is referring to the ability and more the desire to hear. The desire for truth at all cost, for understanding. Why would anyone not? Selfishness! Truth often means pain and change. If we are a fallen creature as scripture says, then we have a long way to go. We need to grow and growing means revealing the need to change. It is painful. It is difficult. It means admitting fault. If we value feelings above truth, we lose the desire to grow. We lose, our "ears". We read scripture and hear stories but the deep life-changing truth and power to quicken a soul is not available. Jesus spoke in parables, largely because His goal was to speak deep truths that unfold layer after layer as we develop ears to hear. The deeper our desire for truth and growth, the deeper those layers unfold in our own understanding. You see, it is not truly "our understanding" that reveals the truth, it is the Holy Spirit. He is our teacher. That still small voice inside that speaks to our heart first, but only to the level, we are willing to listen. All we must do is seek, knock, desire truth. This isn't about intellectual learning. This is about heart changes. As our heart grows closer to God, our minds understand more. It can not be reversed. We can not achieve understanding through intelligence! Study is pointless without"ears" and"ears" are a gift from God. So, all we must do is pray for the deep desire for truth at all costs. Pray that a hunger builds inside to know the things of heaven. Pray for "ears to hear". Jesus promised that those who seek him will find. All we need is the desire! Priorities! Years ago, I would read the old testament scriptures and see great stories, but they were just stories. More historical than inspirational. But listening to certain preachers, those stories would come alive! They would unfold the layers and WOW there was so much truth! I wanted to be able to hear that truth, those deeper things, for myself. For years I asked God to let me see what they saw. And finally, it came. The stories of old grew relevant, powerful, each one taking on useful meaning. The words came alive in a way I had never experienced before. God gave me " ears". You to can hear what Jesus is saying. You too can experience the exquisite beauty of scripture! You can hear our Lord speaking to you through scripture, every word digging deeper into your soul with life-giving water. All you need do is ask for "ears to hear". He waits for you to ask. Seek Him today!
