[Mark 4]

H – Mark 4:24, “And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.”

E – Listen!

Listening is an important part of life. A lot of knowledge is brought forth when you just listen. When you listen you can hear a person; their attitude, wants, desires, you can hear concerns and commands. And to the contrary, if you don’t listen or just a little to what you want to hear, you really won’t know.

Jesus made clear the value of listening. All through Mark 4 you find these words: “Listen!”, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.,” “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.,” “Pay attention to what you hear.”

So, here is the point, pay attention. Jesus warns his disciples, through parables, that people are responsible for the truth they receive. You are responsible for hearing, accepting, and applying (4:20). You are responsible for the light or knowledge received (4:21-23). You are responsible for how you listen to truth and continue to listen (4:33).

Also, your attitude in hearing is a direct correlation of your attitude applying (measure). If the hearer embraces Jesus’ message of the kingdom in a rich and profound way, then still more will be added to you—that is, God will take up residence in that heart and give increased understanding and blessing. However, if the hearer fails to embrace the Word of truth then their attitude leads them to be devoured (4:4), scorched (4:6), or chocked out (4:7). In Jesus’s words, “they fall away” because they cared not to embrace what they heard. 

How you listen to God matters. And, just a reminder, God primarily speaks through His Word. So, if you want to know the Spirit of God you need to stay in the Word of God. Mark 4 is not the only reference to how people need to carefully listen. Paul told Timothy as he implored him to preach, 2 Timothy 4:3–4, “[3] For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

A – Don’t have itchy ears. Listen! Receive His Word with thanksgiving in my heart (measured to). Proclaim His Word with from an overflowing passion (measure you use). And, don’t stop listening. Let the truth I hear be evident for all to see (multiplying fruit, lamp for all to see). 

R – Lord God, thank you for your truth. Help me to listen and then apply what I hear. May my soil be ready to embrace your Word and I pray it produces bountiful fruit, for your glory. 

In Jesus Name!