What Jesus Did! 'The Hard Truth about Hearing' — Mark 4:25

Friday, March 8, 2024

[Jesus continued,] "To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them."
— Mark 4:25 NLT

Key Thought

Jesus wants us to know that as we apply ourselves to listening to him, he is still active in communication. He will help us understand more! But, we must be open to his teaching. We must be willing to listen, hear, and apply his message to our lives. But if we are sloppy, disinterested, or hard-hearted toward the message of Jesus, what little we understand will be stripped away from us. There is an urgency to our hearing the Master. Two raindrops can land inches apart on either side of the Western Continental Divide in the U.S., and one will ultimately end up in the Pacific Ocean and the other in the Atlantic Ocean. Listeners to Jesus' message can also end up oceans apart based upon their desires to be open to his teaching. We have a tremendous responsibility and opportunity to listen to Jesus! Our commitment to doing so greatly determines the ultimate destination of our lives.

Today's Prayer

O Father God, Lord of heaven and earth, help me hear. Even more, dear Father, create in me a hunger for hearing the truth of Jesus. Open my heart to your Son's message. Strip from me the barriers that would keep me from being attentive. I want my life to be shaped by the words of your Son. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Matthew 10:14-15
  • Matthew 11:15
  • Matthew 12:42

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Illustration

Illustration of Mark 4:25 NLT — [Jesus continued,] "To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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