LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY
Opening Prayer
O God, thank you for the price that was paid so that I could call you Father!
Read LUKE 8:16-21
A Lamp on a Stand
16 “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. 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18 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.”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
19 Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”
21 He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
If you want someone to really hear you, what do you do? Make eye contact? Give a strong, clear message? Repetition? What would God do if he wanted you to hear something important?After teaching the parable of the soils, Jesus continues to restate a critical point from that story— ‘Listen!’ First, he uses the analogy of a lamp. Second, his family members become another way to repeat his point for those who were with him.
The purpose of a lamp is to shed light. There is no point in hiding a lamp. The radiance of the lamp is there to shine out and reveal what is there (v 16). By implication, Jesus’ teaching is about light in a dark world. So, he says, ‘consider carefully how you listen’ (v 18; see also v 10). The light of Jesus’ teaching brings with it a promise of judgment. Either we listen carefully and understand reality, or we don’t listen carefully and slide further away from light and life and hope. There is no neutral option.
Then, we see his family is looking for him (vs 19-21). Jesus uses this to restate his point: ‘hear God’s word and put it into practice.’ He seems to be taking every opportunity to underline something significant: listen carefully to what Jesus says!
Apply
What would your life look like if you were listening carefully and responding appropriately to the words of Jesus?
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, give me understanding as I study your Word, and help me use that understanding to shine brightly in this world filled with darkness.
Book and Author Intros
Extras
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