(Mark 4:21-25 ESV) [21] And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? [22] For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. [23] If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” [24] And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. [25] For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
Now think for a moment....would that light be very helpful?
it would still be doing it's job right?
But would it be very helpful? Or even useful?
Now take that same light and walk down a dark tunnel?
Has the light changed?
So too is our hearing of the word of the Lord. If we are listening to what we hear, does the word of the Lord become more useful to us?
Jesus tells us "nothing is hidden except to be made manifest" and that "Nor is anything made secret except to come to light". This follows yesterday's passage where we are old the we know the secret of the kingdom of God.
Don't you think the two follow each other? We've been given this secret. Should we be hiding it away? Putting it under our bed where it MIGHT be useful to us, but it is being useful where it is truly needed?
So what are you going to do with the secret of God that you bear within you, that knowledge that you hold?
Have you paid attention to what you've heard? Have you truly learned what you were told about? PAY ATTENTION if you aren't already. We have a secret to tell our world about. Our sphere of influence, where we are. Are we letting the light of what we've paid attention to shine.out? Or are we using it only where we want to put it? (for looking under beds or baskets).
Jesus is clear "pay attention to what you hear. With the measure that you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added. For to the one how has, more will be given. And from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away". Let us use what we have eh? Makes sense to do so does it not?
I read this and I think of the missionary stories I've been doing on my homeschool blog and I am AMAZED at some of the things these missionary folks do and it makes me wonder....what kind of a difference could I make? If I just used more of what I know? God tells me that how well I listen (and that implies action based on what I hear) will be blessed and be added to. It is for the missionaries....so why wouldn't it be for me as well?
Let us then learn more from God eh? Let us then be resolved to be better listeners to what we hear.