¨But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.¨ Matthew 13:16 (KJV)
In Matthew 13 verses 16 to 23 Jesus gives us some great light into the way things truly are. He tries to help us take all the external human and worldly things and peel them back so we can see things for their spiritual importance and relation to God.
Jesus gives us categories in which we all will find ourselves. The question is which one.
The list goes as follows:
- Ones hearing but not understanding. These soon have their opportunity stolen away because they were effectively blinded to spiritual things and never had time for them to sink in. (those beside the path)
- Ones who hear, accept with joy and go along as Christians for a time. These unsuspecting ones enjoy religion for a time but then lose it because they never had any convictions rooted deep enough in them to endure any real conflict. (those sown on rocky ground)
- Ones who hear the word, become Christians but somewhere along their walk the world and distractions grow bigger than they should. These may continue their whole life not realizing the danger they are in. This is probably where most of us modern Christians will find ourselves at some point. But they are not the ones Jesus commends and in the end are not found to have the fruit He was looking for. (those sown among the thorns)
We deliberately did not list the last category, but will explain later.
If we are considering these words it is probably safe to say that we are at least within the latter categories, but which one?
Jesus would never give us beautiful little stories merely for our enjoyment. He knows much more than we do the ultimate importance this issue has not only for the individual but on a universal scale as well. If we read the parable with a smile on our face, nod our heads in agreement, then dismiss the thought to pass on ahead to something which interests us more, well, we are already placing ourselves within one of these three categories.
This is why we only listed the three.
Now we did not mention the last group together with the others because by nature, the people who make up this group will not need encouragement. The ones Jesus mentions as the seed which fell on good soil are tortured souls. They have a fire burning out of control inside of their hearts. They suffer each day and their heart aches because it cannot seem to fit all of the immense Spirit that is pouring into their souls.
These poor peculiar people are not like you and I who engage the world around us and try to find our place in it. These blessed few have heard the very voice of Jesus. They fell in love with that voice and each moment of life for them is offered up somehow as a sacrifice and an offering to their God. The only pull of their soul is towards Jesus, in pleasing Him and drawing closer to Him.
Every act and every thought of this kind of Christian brings fruit on a heavenly scale because it is done in the power of the Lord, it is done for the Lord and it is done to the Lord.
Now for the sake of argument let us place ourselves today into one of the first three categories. Why? Because if we would like to be a part of the last group there is for sure much healing that still needs doing for each of us. The ones already inside this last group are the ones who would not place themselves there for fear that they would be running the risk of somehow relaxing and letting their prize slip away.
Dear Lord, please show us today the true condition of our souls. Let us know where You would place us in relation to You. Help us to desire more than anything in the world, to be one of those poor souls who burn so deeply for You.
In Your name we pray,
Amen
Scott W
Searching For Christ 
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