Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – Mark 4:21-25 – Ears To Hear – Growing As Disciples
He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you–and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” Mark 4:21-25 (NIV)
Hearing
Do you have ears that are hearing? Don’t be quick to answer that question. I know that you have ears. I also know that your ears are in working order. The question is, “ Are you really hearing all that I want you to hear?” I would guess that I am not hearing all you want to say to me. I am pretty sure that I am not hearing and receiving and learning all you want to teach me. That is a very good guess. Why do you think that is true? There are plenty of times that I have heard what you wanted me to hear and then a short time later I have forgotten what you said to me. Did my words really go in one of your ears and out the other? Yes, they did. Those words did not stay in you long enough to change your heart or transform your mind. No, they did not. Did you really learn anything from me then? No, I did not. That’s not good. That’s not what you and I both want is it? No, it isn’t, I want your words to change my heart and transform my mind.
What is the source of the problem? Why are my words sometime going in one of your ears and out the other? Do you think I know the answer to that question? I know that you know the answer to that question. I think that I am failing to carefully consider your words. What does that mean to you? I’m not meditating on your word. I’m not letting your word sink deeply into my heart and mind. I not taking enough time or making a full enough effort to grab hold of your word. Maybe, it’s the other way around. Maybe, I’m not taking enough time or making a full enough effort to let your word grab ahold of me. I’m racing right by your word. I’m lightly considering it. What would help you to more full consider my word? I think two things would help me to more fully consider your word. Tell me your thoughts. I need to carefully consider how to put your word into practice. That would help me to better hear all that you are saying to me. Yes, it would. What else? I also need to consider how I can share with others all that you have been teaching me from your word. You don’t want me to hide or keep quiet about what you have been teaching me. No, I do not. I can shine brightly like a light in the world as I share your word with others. Yes, you can. Putting your word into practice and sharing it with others will make me able to carefully consider your word. Yes, it will.
Lord, I will take time and make a full effort to carefully consider all that you want to say to me from your word. I will be a light in the world and richly and boldly share with others all I have heard and received and learned from you. Amen
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If – Mark 4-21-25 – Ears To Hear – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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