We must open our ears

As a young boy I briefly lived in Wisconsin. In summer my mother signed me up for many different events. I participated in tennis, swim lessons, swim team, baseball and even art lessons! My mother’s instructions were clear. “Get on your bike. Go to these events. Don’t be late. Give it everything you have. Be enthusiastic.” In other words, “No pain. No gain.” And, “That which doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger!”

Seriously, we only get out of something what we put into it. The more effort we expend, the more benefits we enjoy. In Mark 4:23-25 Jesus told a very short parable. He said, “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear… Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

Jesus told us to listen (verse 23). He told us to be careful what we listen to (verse 24). He also told us to be careful how we listen (Luke 8:18). We need to open our ears and listen!

Jesus often used the phrase, “By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given besides” (Matthew 7:1-2, Luke 6:38). This parable is in the context of the unpardonable sin. Jesus healed a person who was blind, demon possessed and mute. The Pharisees said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul…. He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons” (Mark 3:22). The religious leaders refused to listen to the truth.

Jesus in this parable is saying, “Open your ears and listen to the Word of God. Results are dependent upon effort.” In Mark 4:25 Jesus said, “For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.” More effort results in greater blessing. Less effort results in more darkness.

The Bible is an amazing Book. The Bible is inspired or breathed out by God (2 Timothy 3:16). God the Holy Spirit used 40 different human authors over 1,500 years on 3 different continents to give us God’s Word. Yet there are no errors and no contradictions in the Bible.

Jeremiah 23:29 describes the Bible as a hammer and a fire. It is also described as a sword (Hebrews 4:12). It softens our hearts. It illumines our minds. It cuts deep. It is a supernatural Book!

Martin Luther said, “The Bible is the cradle where Christ is laid.” Ronald Reagan said, “Within the covers of the Bible are the answers to all the problems we face.” Corrie ten Boom, a concentration camp survivor, said, “I’ve experienced His presence in the deepest darkest hell that men can create. I have tested the promises of the Bible, and believe me, you can count on them.”

James, the half brother of Jesus, wrote, “But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger” (James 1:19). A rough paraphrase is, “Stop talking and listen to the Word of God.” He also wrote, “But prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (James 1:22). James basically said, “Stop listening and start obeying God’s Word.”

If we rake, we get leaves. If we dig, we get gold. Let’s be careful students of God’s Word. Have you read your Bible today?

Ethan Hansen is a pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.