Scripture

“To those who listen to my teaching more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”

Observation

Jesus asks, would you light a lamp and then conceal it? Of course not, the lamp is placed so that its light can shine out. The mysteries of the Gospel are being revealed to those who seek them.

The more we pay attention to Jesus, the more understanding we will receive. Those who refuse to listen will lose even the little understanding they have.

The Kingdom of God is like seed that grows. Nobody knows how it happens, but little by little the plant grows and matures.

The kingdom of God is also like a mustard seed planted in the ground, even though it is the smallest of seeds, it grows into a great tree

Application

It has been said that faith is like a muscle. The more you exercise it the stronger it becomes. Similarly understanding of spiritual things increases as we press into Jesus and listen to Him- reading the word, praying, fellowship.

I am sometimes impressed by the depth of spiritual understanding of some people who struggle to read but have a deep comprehension of not just the written word, but how to apply it in their lives.

Understanding means that we see the spiritual powers and authorities and can discern what to pray to overcome them. Understanding means that we train ourselves to think about what Jesus would do in the challenges of life, or to ask the Holy Spirit what we should do.

Understanding means depending on God’s wisdom rather than our own in all of the messy times of life or in helping others to navigate their own chaotic lives.

As we listen to Jesus to find His ways, He will reveal more to us, so that we truly do grow in wisdom.