Title: Refresh Your Ears
Contents When God the Creator created human beings, He made ears to hear them. It is a blessing that people can hear it. In today's text, he said, "Blessed are your ears because they hear." It is said that it is a blessing to you (people) that God has given you ears to hear.
But 'what do you hear'. 'What do you hear?' That's where your personality is. Is it personal or impersonal? The foundation of God's creation is goodness. “God saw that it was good” (Good saw that it was very good. / Genesis 1:31) Blessed are the ears that hear the word of God. “Hear, O Israel (Shema)” (Deuteronomy 6:4), “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans: 10:17). Hearing is a blessing.
Just as we have a tendency to eat, we also have a tendency to listen. Among the many sounds, there is one that I hear. Listening doesn't mean you hear everything. It's not like you realize everything you hear. There is selective hearing. In fact, it is said that the loudest sound is the sound of the Earth spinning. But that's something people can't hear. It's about listening as you've been accustomed to.
When you get into bad habits, it becomes strange to hear. You only hear evil sounds and you do evil things. So, in the text, Jesus speaks in parables.
First of all, "a heart like the roadside" - it is so worn out and worn out that even if any seeds (words) fall there, it cannot be nested. "A heart like a stone" - The seeds grow through the cracks, but because they receive superficially because of the lack of depth, and listen dryly, history cannot be made. "A heart like thorns" - Because we are bound by so many complicated worries such as worries about the world and wealth, the work of the Word does not appear and withers and withers. He says that we can receive the Gospel only when we have “a heart like the soil” weeds, all stones, clean, soft, and literally like soil. This is where the work of salvation takes place.
Total acceptance. That's why Jesus said, "Blessed are your ears for hearing." “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” he says. “Ears to hear”-Ears must be regenerated. “You who have uncircumcised ears” (Acts 7:51). Only when our ears are renewed can the work of the gospel be accomplished. Listening is important, listening posture is important, and fully accepting personality is important. Through the channel of hearing, the power of the Word works in the person and accomplishes the work of salvation, the work of being born again, and the work of perfecting.
The story of Martha and Mary in Bethany gives us a valuable insight (Luke 10:38-42). “Martha, you are busy with many things, but Mary has chosen the good side, and it will not be taken away from you.” Martha was busy with hospitality, but Mary was praised for listening to Jesus. King Solomon did it (1 Kings 3:1-10). When he offered a thousand burnt offerings to touch God's heart and asked for his wish, he said, "Give me a heart of wisdom," and received unprecedented blessings. “Reb (mind), shimeah (hear)” in Hebrew - understanding mind (heart to hear) in English. Also, the faith of the Roman military centurion is praised by Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13). “Only tell me!! (The servant will listen)” Hallelujah!!