Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, Here am I. Send me! He said, "Go and tell this people: Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving. Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed." Isaiah 6:8-10
Have you ever noticed that there are people who never argue religion or politics? Apparently these subjects are discussed without agreement and stir up ill feelings as people are emotional on both subjects. However when it comes to listening to the gospel message people run from it, they make every attempt to avoid it or they are just not interested.
However when it comes to listening to the gospel message people run from it, they make every attempt to avoid it or they are just not interested.
This fact makes it difficult for the Christian to go into the world to teach what Jesus Christ commanded us to do. Testifying is difficult when the person you are speaking to changes the subject or tells you they have other things to do. It becomes disheartening to the point you stop trying to bring in the sheep. On the other hand God has commanded us not to be discouraged which makes us take the gospel to people who don’t want the listen to reason. Why are people afraid of hearing the gospel when its news is very beneficial to the rest of your life?
How do we take the gospel to the world corrupted by its evil desires? Secondly how do we take the gospel to people whose minds are as hard as a stone? How do we take the gospel to people whose eyes are blinded as if covered by a veil and cannot see the truth of the gospel?
Everyone has eyes to see and ears to hear so they may perceive however not everyone makes an effort to understand what their senses tell them.
Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Mark 4:15
While they may hear the word they do not consider what they heard to hang on to it or prevent it from being stolen. The benefit from considering God’s word is in grasping the truth, finding its merit, and assessing the value of what God said to you personally. In other words what do I get out of it?
Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. Mark 4:16
Great stuff but the world beats you to smithereens when you try to apply it. Because of the persecution from Satan, people fall away and God’s word is of no benefit. Since their heart has so many stones it lacks room in their heart for God’s word to take root.
Another group of people hear the word but are more concerned with getting ahead in this world. The desire for wealth and luxuries stifle the truth of God’s word. The god of this world makes sure their desire to live in a godly fashion is directed to his benefit.
Some Christians hear the word but do not produce a crop of righteousness God desires for the lack of effort. It is those who delight in the truth and can grasp its importance that nurtures and produces the life God wants.
Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you — and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." Mark 4:24-25
The person who makes the effort to see and hear knows how to perceive the gospel. The person who considers God’s word carefully will gain the knowledge to live a life acceptable to God. On the other hand the heart that is hardened by this world prevents you from understanding God’s reasoning and intent. We need to think things through as God removes the heart of stone and gives you a heart of flesh when you accept Jesus into your life. God also promised you will not be alone when you serve him.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Ezekiel 36:26-27
God makes the difference so that you hear and understand his word and the principles he lives by. Your experiences will tell you that you will not steer your children to sin against you neither will your heavenly Father. However your children will not listen to you until they have been disciplined to know what to expect of you. By the same token you may never listen to your heavenly father until he disciplines you to know what he expects of you.
Perceiving is becoming aware through the senses of sight or hearing especially to achieve understanding. Knowing what God expects of you demands that you train the eyes and ears God have given you to recognize his principles and wisdom. Behind the scenes of the world system God’s principles are at work and it takes the imparted wisdom of God to see it in action. Yet to perceive God’s wisdom we have to compare God’s word with the worlds system. Deep in the ugly world system God principles are at work but you must make an effort to look for them.
The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18-19
Christ took examples from the lives of his audience to explain God’s message. He used the knowledge people had as a reference to compare God’s principles to. These examples produced a believable picture in the people’s mind so they could grasp the principles of God. This method made the gospel of God both practical and acceptable to those who followed the teachings of Jesus Christ. Most Christians can identify with this principle.
When we testify do we trust God for the examples we need? Are our ears attentive to the wisdom of God and are we willing to respond accordingly? Are we doing our thing to win souls? Are we expressing our love for God or are we expressing God’s love to those who are perishing? It is God’s will that they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed. July 2015
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