“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 8:18, NIV).
Do you see the link here between “listening” and “having”? These two concepts are inseparable. The more you listen, the more you will have. But what is it that you will have? We find the answer to this question in the previous verse: “For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light” (v. 17, NKJV).
Jesus is talking about secrets here. God’s secrets. Did you know that God has secrets? There are things that He doesn’t tell just anyone. They are reserved for His true friends. To those of us who long for deeper friendship with Him, there is more and more of Himself that He is going to reveal to us. Even aspects of His nature that had at one point been “hidden” from us will become “known” to our hearts.
But… only if we will learn how to listen. You see the “therefore” at the beginning of our opening verse? I heard a preacher say once, “When you see a ‘therefore’ you want to ask yourself what it’s ‘there for.’” What is this “therefore” there for? First, Jesus emphasizes the availability of spiritual secrets. He stresses God’s desire to bring what is hidden out into the light, before your very eyes and ears. He follows that immediately by “Therefore, consider carefully how you listen.” In other words, you are eligible for these revealed secrets, but it is a conditional eligibility. This getting to know previously hidden aspects of God’s heart very much could be for you personally…if…
Continue reading Considering Carefully… The “More” Factor
Feeding On Jesus 