TAKE HEED HOW YOU HEAR
Luke 8:18: Take heed therefore how ye
hear.
Do you take heed to how you hear
the gospel? It takes the pastor days to prepare a message. How much time do we
spend hearing the word preached? Before
we arrive at services, do we spend time preparing our hearts to hear the
gospel? Once at the building, do we arrive early enough to sit and prepare
ourselves to hear? Afterwards, do we
spend time studying what we have heard? Here are four reasons to take heed how
we hear the gospel.
First, we heard Christ give the parable of
the four kinds of ground. Only one out of the four truly heard and brought
forth fruit. A hearing ear is given by the grace of God. It is a rare thing to
have the truth preached, even more to hear it with spiritual ears. Christ commands his people, “Take heed therefore how ye hear.”
Secondly, the Lord said that he gives us
grace and light to teach others what he has taught us in the gospel. “No man, when he hath lighted a candle,
covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a
candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. For nothing is secret,
that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known
and come abroad. Take heed therefore how ye hear.” (Lu 8: 16-18) How can I
tell others the good news of Christ if I do not take heed how I hear?
Thirdly, as we hear, Christ gives more
grace to those who hear. Yet, he takes from those who only appear to have but
who in truth have no real interest in their hearts. He said, “for whosoever hath, to him shall be given;
and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to
have.” (Luk 8: 18) “Take heed therefore how ye hear.”
Fourthly, Christ says those who heed this
word and do it are his true family. “Then
came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the
press. And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren
stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My
mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.”
(Luk 8: 19-21)
Christ’s people will read this
and “Take heed therefore how ye hear.”