JESUS SAID
A Weekly Spirit-Lifter Bible-based Devotional
San Diego Central Seventh-day Adventist Church
JESUS SAID                                                                           January 29, 2018
Listen Up...and be Blessed   

Jesus said in Matthew 13:9, "He who has ears, let him hear." 

Simply, this first statement is saying "Listen up!" 

Here, Jesus is making point about really listening so we can hear what He is saying. 

Why do you think?

The answer to this question is found a few verses later in Matthew 13:16 where He said, "Blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear." 

It's about receiving a blessing...a blessing that He wants to give!

This second statement is saying that he who sees and hears to the point of doing what is said, will be blessed. 

So what are we to hear, understand, and do so a blessing will come our way? 

Jesus himself explains it In verses Matthew 13:18-23. 

It goes something like this....The Word of God is given to everyone, and the results are displayed in four ways: (1) we won't hear or understand the Truth because our heart is hardened, (2) we will quickly respond to the Truth, but our shallow belief will be quickly shaken when faced with challenges, (3) we will live a double-sided life, and outside influences will overtake our faith, and (4) we will hear and understand the Word of God, and a life of faith will be the evidence. 

Did you hear this?

Jesus is asking us to listen up...so we can be blessed.

He's saying that we won't be blessed if our hearts are hardened. We won't be blessed if our faith is easily shaken. We won't be blessed if we live a double-sided life.

The truth isn't easy to hear, is it?

Several times in the New Testament Jesus calls the crowd close to Him so they can hear Him. 

Mark 7:14 is one of those places, again, where it tells us that Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this."

There's also a scripture in Proverbs 8:24 where it says: "Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway."

With so many instances in the Bible, it appears that our Maker is saying that just because we have ears does not mean that we listen, because listening implies doing.

Jesus wants us to listen to Him, do what He asks, so that our lives will be better and so He can bless us.

Our Lord wants us to go to Him daily-basically wait at His "doorway"-so that we can listen to what He has to say to us...so we will hear and understand the Word of God directly and clearly, so that our lives will be the evidence of our daily time with Him...and so He can bless us the way He wants to.

So hear this loud and clear today. Jesus has something to say to you. Jesus has a blessing just for you. 

So listen up, and be blessed!

ABOUT JESUS SAID
JESUS SAID  is a weekly Spirit-Lifter devotional thought from the  San Diego Central Seventh-day Adventist Church Communication Ministry. On a weekly basis, Bible-based readings will provide you with practical application to lift your day. JESUS SAID devotionals are copyright © 2017 by Brenda Boyd, PhD. Reprinted by permission.

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