Listen! Listen up & Listen Well. Do you have ears to hear?

Jesus tells parables often and in Mark 4 it's all about Listening.

You can read the story in Mark 4:1-20 by clicking on the above link or watch it:

Watching I found there's moments people laugh, but at the same time it is quite terrifying. The explanations Jesus gives are, well, great. I love that he lets us in to hear what he's saying. The seed is the Word of God. God's Truth. The Good News. Gospel. It's the history of God's promises and his faithfulness to these promises. It's the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus.

The soils are the possible responses to this Truth. There's only one soil described as good. There's only one response that is therefore good. It's the person who LISTENS to the truth. Who even though they struggle to understand, they keep seeking, keep asking and keep listening to the answers God has in His Word. And as you listen what you hear is pretty great. You hear that Jesus loves you and gave up his life for you in your place. This news excites you. The fact someone loved you that much. People start paying you out for following Jesus, but you stand up for Him. You don't let other people's opinions get thing the way of listening to Jesus.

 You've accepted Jesus as Lord and by His Spirit you continue in your love for Jesus. You live a life that isn't perfect, but you seek to honour God. You bear Fruit. In the face of hardship you're joyful in Jesus.

People see this in you and say 'I want what they've got'. And so you get to tell them why you're different. Why you seek to honour God.

This is the good soil. Be the good soil.