Luke 8: Consider How You Listen

“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.  Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.” - Luke 8:16-18 NIV

Sometimes I read the Bible for hours, well perhaps not hours, but I feel like I read and read and nothing speaks to me.  At other times, I just pick it up and something jumps out at me.  Such is the case with this passage.  I have read the story of the sower many time and have always understood that it is speaking about how different people receive the gospel and react to it, never really paying attention to the end of the story where Jesus talks about those who have more being given more and how that relates to how we listen.

The Gospel, the Truth, is all out there for us.  It is not hidden but waiting to be discovered.  Jesus didn't come to just show us healings, miracles and good deeds.  He came to show us the Father, to show us God.  Do you realize that is possible, that we can see God, the creator of the universe.  We can see him?  What a wonder that is, that scripture, this living Word, can reveal God to us.  Jesus lit the light of the Gospel and put it out there for all to see.  It is not hidden, it is not disguised.  What we must consider is how we receive it, or as Jesus said, how we listen.  If we listen (or read) with open hearts, we will discover more and more and more.  If we try to use the Word to just prove our point, if it becomes our weapon for beating unbelievers or even ourselves , we will lose it.  The meaning of God's word will disappear.