“You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to My teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” (Matthew 13:11-12 NLT)
When Matthew refers to “secrets” in the above verse, he’s not implying the Lord is deliberately trying to hide things from us. Quite to the contrary, He’s seeking to make the mysteries of His Kingdom clearer and more easily understood. The issue too often isn’t listening and understanding, it’s sifting through what we’re hearing with preconceived notions that filter the truth of what’s being taught, resulting in a distorted view of what otherwise would be clear.
It’s almost like me when I was a child. Mom would tell me to take out the trash. Simple instruction, right? Not to a 9-year-old boy. What I heard was: “Sweetheart, when you want to get around to it, please take out the trash.” So, I figured sometime within the next week should be fine. The problem wasn’t with the message; it was with the hearing. Unfortunately, we tend to do that with the Lord. His commandments become suggestions, to our demise.
Another dimension of that problem is blaming God for not speaking when the issue is clearly that we’re not listening. We wonder why God seems so far away, especially in difficult times, but we never seek His presence in prayer or His comfort through His words. The Psalms are filled with comforting messages from the Lord, not to mention the invitations from the Lord Himself in the New Testament.
I’m reminded of Jeremiah 8:18 in the KJV where it records these sad words: “When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me.” Looking within to find strength is like trying to play baseball with your hands tied behind your back. Not only are you going to get frustrated, you’re likely to get hurt further in the process. The answer isn’t looking inward, it’s looking outward to the only Source of healing and hope, the Lord Jesus. Bob Goff was right when he said: “I used to think God wouldn’t talk to me, but now I know I’m just selective with what I choose to hear.”
With what are you struggling in this season? The answer isn’t to go over, under, or around your problem. The only way is through, but not alone! Strength to persevere is found in immersing yourself in God’s Word, fellowshipping with God’s people, and finding strength and hope in communion with the Lord in prayer – not just speaking but listening! The Lord speaks most loudly through His Word, but also through His Creation.
As I walked to church on many occasions when I was Pastoring, it amazed me how I sensed the trees and plants swaying in worship and adoration of their Creator. It inspired me to join them and to realize the burdens I was carrying could be lightened by lifting my hands and heart to my Savior. Rather than choosing to limit what we hear from the Lord, we must open the channel to His Holy Spirit.
Samuel learned this lesson well as recorded in 1 Samuel 3:9ff. Eli told the young boy Samuel: “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” When Samuel tuned his heart to God’s frequency a powerful message was given.
The Lord is always willing to speak; it’s many times a matter of us being willing to listen. Are you listening? Openly, not selectively?
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 