The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Ears

  • Have Ears to Hear

    “But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.”

    Matthew 13:16

    Most people ignore the Word of God. We know the latest scores of sporting events, the latest movies that are out, the most recent headlines, popular shorts to be watched, and so many more irrelevant issues of the day. Yet we neglect to know the true life changing Word of God. Not only does it teach us about Jesus, the only way to heaven, but the Bible is to guide Christians’ every day lives. Many have memorized the following verse: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). However, do many Christians actually do this?

    Remembering that the Bible is all about Jesus, a Christian cannot live a Christ-like life without setting one’s heart upon knowing the Word of God – for it will reveal Jesus to us. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). Glory means “the recognition belonging to a person, honor, renown. God’s glory made itself manifest in and through Jesus Christ (see John 1:14, 2 Corinthians 4:6).” Knowing Jesus reveals the glory of God. As you read through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), you will often find that the people glorified God when they saw Jesus’ miracles (see Matthew 15:31). To know God and His glory, one must know Jesus and His Word. Remember what Jesus told his disciples. “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me” (Luke 24:44). Because all of the Bible teaches of Jesus, Christians must know the Bible and what it says if we are to know Christ better.

    Understanding these things, Believers are to take time to read God’s Word. As we read, hearing from God, we must understand what it is we are hearing from God. “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 13:9). It is then we begin to study and truly understand the Bible. Read what Jesus said about those who understand God’s Word. “But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear” (Matthew 13:16).

    After reading and beginning to understand God’s Word, Christians must ponder upon the Word of God. The word ponder means “to think deeply, carefully, and for a long time about something, often when trying to make a hard choice or understand a complex idea.” As we ponder upon God’s Word, we begin to have His Word in our hearts. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). Heart means “the totality of man’s inner or immaterial nature… These are the deepest, innermost feelings.” When God’s Word is in our hearts, we can adhere to its’ teachings. “21. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.22. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:21-23). It is important to keep (obey) God’s Word. It is then a Believer can have a relationship with Jesus. “14.Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15.Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you” John 15:14-15). We become Jesus’ friends.

    Once one reads God’s Word, hears from God, and ponders upon it, Believers are then able to implement the principles found into our lives. It is at that point we become more like Jesus. Then one can understand the plan and purpose God has for that life. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). It is a process. Keep in mind that many followed Jesus while He walked on this earth. The crowds pressed upon Him often. The disciples followed Him. Yet remember what Jesus told them. “24. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.25. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 16:24-25). It is then that one can truly know Him.

    Finally, Believers are to get busy. Remember how the writer of Hebrews prayed for the Believers before the book closed. “20. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).

    Have you recognized the importance of Christians knowing and understanding God’s Word, which prepares us to know and walk with Jesus?

  • Hardhearted, Deaf, and Blind

    “For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”

    Acts 28:27

    Paul preached the Gospel Message of Jesus. He went on three specific missionary journeys, traveling to many towns and countries to deliver the message of salvation only through Jesus Christ. Acts chapters 13-28 tell of Paul’s travels, ending with his trip by ship to Rome as a prisoner. His heart’s desire was to see the Jews believe upon Jesus and accept Him as their Messiah (Christ), their Saviour. However, many rejected his preaching of the Gospel Message of Jesus. “4. And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 5. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. 6. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles” (Acts 18:4-6). Can you sense his frustration that his people, whom he loved dearly, would reject the only salvation through Jesus? Because of this rejection, he went to the Gentiles to teach them of Jesus.

    When Paul finally made it to Rome as a prisoner, he was met by a group of Jews who wanted to hear what Paul had to say. There were misunderstandings as to why he was imprisoned by the Romans. “For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain” (Acts 28:20). He wanted them to understand that because the Jewish religious leaders rejected Jesus as the Messiah, “the hope of Israel”, he had been arrested. He had an opportunity to tell this group of Jews about Jesus. Throughout the Old Testament, God had promised to send One who would restore the relationship between God and man, caused by Adam’s initial sin in the garden (see Genesis 3:15). That separation has been between God and man since then. However, God sent His only Son, Jesus (see John 3:16), as the One who could restore that relationship. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus is the only way to salvation. Paul spent many years teaching this truth to people, winning many people to the Lord. However, there were many who rejected Jesus – especially among the Jews. He recognized this would happen, for hundreds of years earlier Isaiah had been told the same basic thing (that the people would not hear see Isaiah 6:9). This saddened Paul, especially because as much as he tried to persuade the people of the truth about Jesus, most of the Jews still rejected Him. Paul then quoted from Isaiah: “For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them” (Acts 28:27). Waxed gross means “to thicken, that is, rendered callous.” Because the hearts of the people where callous to the truth of Jesus, their hearts were hardened. Worse yet, they closed their eyes to the truth of Jesus’ salvation. This message from Isaiah (called Esaias in the New Testament) is quoted in each of the four Gospels. Remember an easier one to understand: “39. Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40. He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them” (John 12:39-40). The Jews had rejected Jesus so often, hardening their hearts and refusing to see, that they were no longer able to believe. Paul understood this. However, Paul recognized that many Gentiles believed in Jesus. “Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it” (Acts 28:28). Salvation is available to any who will “hear it.”

    Have you noticed that the same thing seems to be happening again today? Almost anywhere one goes today, people’s hearts have “waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed”. There comes a point in each person’s heart when they have rejected Jesus so often, hardening the heart and refusing to see, that they are no longer able to believe. This is a scary place for anyone to reach. “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now isthe accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” (2 Corinthians 6:2). When one hears the call of the Gospel Message of Jesus, one should immediately respond and not delay! Now is the day of salvation – not tomorrow. If you have loved ones whose hearts appear to have “waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed”, don’t give up on them. Continue to pray. It may be that you can be instrumental in bringing them to Christ.

    Have you heard the call of the Gospel Message in your heart, or shared it with others?

    Have you understood the importance of responding to that call, receiving Jesus into one’s heart and life before it is too late?

    How to be saved