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

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

"The person that has {something} will receive more. But the person that does not have {much} will lose even the little amount he has."
— Mark 4:25
Illustration of Mark 4:25 — "The person that has {something} will receive more. But the person that does not have {much} will lose even the little amount he has."

Key Thought

Jesus wants us to know that as we apply ourselves to listening to him, he is still active in the 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 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 worlds 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 do 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 to hear 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.

Today's Verses in Context

Then Jesus said to them, "Do you take a lamp and hide it under a bowl or under a bed? No! You put the lamp on a lamp table. Everything that is hidden will be made clear. Every secret thing will be made known. You people that hear me, listen! "Think carefully about the things you hear. The way you give is the way God will give to you. But God will give you more than you give. The person that has {something} will receive more. But the person that does not have {much} will lose even the little amount he has."

Mark 4:21-25

Related Scripture Readings

And if a home or town refuses to welcome you or listen to you, then leave that place. Shake their dust off your feet. I tell you the truth. On the judgment day it will be worse for that town than for the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Matthew 10:14-15

You people that hear me, listen!

Matthew 11:15

On the judgment day, you people that live now will also be compared with the Queen of the South, and she will be a witness to show that you are wrong (guilty). Why? Because she traveled from far, far away to listen to Solomon's wise teaching. And I tell you that someone greater than Solomon is right here, {but you won't listen to me}!

Matthew 12:42

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About This Devotional

What Jesus Did is a one-year devotional guide through the gospels, using one short passage each day and following the Gospel in consecutive order. Each devotional consists of a passage, reflection and a prayer which opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware.

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.

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