Here to HearSample

DAY 4

Written by Kenneth W. Fambro

In Matthew 13:8-9, Jesus is telling a parable to a group of people and His disciples. In verses 8-9, Jesus talks about the seed that is planted in the fertile soil. The seed, Jesus later explains, is God’s Word (Matthew 13:23). The soil is our heart. The fertile soil is what we hope our hearts would be—but how do we get there? Jesus tells us the key at the end…it’s all about our choices. What will we do with the seed of God’s Word? What will I do with it? Will I hear it? Will I listen to it? Will I try to understand it?

Hear. Listen. Understand. These three words stand out to me because often in my life as a teenager I don't enjoy spending time listening to others talk. And yet, that is exactly what everyone around a teenager does to us…talk. I mean, have you ever met a teenager who enjoys hearing lectures at school? Listening can be hard to do because we often form opinions and responses to what other people have to say before they even say it. Jesus sees this struggle and wants to show us that hearing is not enough. We need to listen with open ears and open hearts, but there’s more. In verse 9, Jesus also tells us not only to hear and listen but also to understand.

Have you ever gone to a class at school and not understood a particular topic or subject? It feels like the teacher keeps spewing new information out at you but you can’t keep up or process any of it. That is the feeling of hearing and listening without understanding. If you don't understand the Word that God is planting in your heart, you will not nurture and grow what is planted. But once we take a step past hearing and finally take the time to listen to God’s Word, we have the opportunity to understand it. We become like the plant that is within fertile soil because we are able to grow God’s Word in our hearts. God has given us the seed through His Word, now it is up to us as to what we will do with it.

The next time you read God’s Word, take a second to do more than just read it. Pick one verse that stands out to you and write it down. Then ask the Holy Spirit to show you how it applies to your life right now. This way you not only hear and listen to God’s Word, but you also begin to understand it by intersecting it with your life.

Pray this prayer with us today:

Jesus, we thank You for blessing us with the ability to understand Your Word. We pray that You will help us take the time to plant Your Word into our hearts. Let the teaching of Your Word flourish into our everyday actions, producing an abundant crop. Amen.