Consecration: Don’t Play the Fool

“There must be something about hearing that is a big deal. Jesus said many times,“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” That seems straightforward, but did you know that we tend to hear in layers? For example, maybe you go to the theatre to watch a newly released movie. Then, later when it’s released on DVD or on-demand, you watch it again. In that second viewing, you notice things you hadn’t noticed the first time. And, I’d be willing to guess that after a third viewing, you’d catch even more of the details. Why is this important? If we hear in layers, then we need to make it a point to hear God’s Word many times over. Each time we hear—if we’re truly tuned in, engaged, and listening with our ears and our spirit inside—we’ll hear more and more nuggets of truth to apply to our lives. Remember the parable about the four types of soil? Let’s revisit it here: The first time we hear God’s Word, it may be like the footpath. It’s so new to us that it would be easy for the enemy to snatch itaway if we don’t take further action to truly move that Word deeper into our heart. Maybe we hear the Word or sermon again, and receive it with joy, but it still doesn’t have very deep roots yet… so when temptation comes calling, we fall away from that truth. Then, the next time we hear it, it’s still pressured out by the distracting cares of this world. BUT when we hear the Word yet again (for the fourth time!) —and cling to it, store it deep within our heart, and sprinkle on patience and faith—that’s when it produces a harvest in our lives!”—Beth Jones