Listen to the King

Matthew 13:23
But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

Jesus taught a lot about the Kingdom of Heaven. Life in God’s kingdom is counterintuitive to the way the kingdoms of this world operate. Jesus spoke in parables to draw in those who were genuinely seeking a relationship with God because life in the kingdom is all about relationship with the King.

To be successful in the kingdom is not about how hard you work, how busy you are, how intelligent, popular or physically attractive you are, how much you earn or your status. Success in the kingdom is a fruit of intimacy.

Jesus explained the way to be abundantly fruitful in the parable of the sower. This parable is about a farmer sowing seed and the different types of ground in which the seed is scattered. The quality of the crop is dependent on the richness of the soil. The seed refers to the word of God and the different types of ground represent the hearts of the listeners.

Jesus said the way to be fruitful in the kingdom depends on the way you listen to and understand His word which is also a reflection of the level of intimacy in your relationship with Him. For any relationship to be successful, two people must spend time with one another, listen to and understand what the other one is saying. Relationships where one side is not really interested in getting to know what the other person thinks and feels are shallow and frustrating. We all need to be heard and understood. In the same way, when Jesus speaks to us, we need to listen and understand Him, so that His word or seed can bear fruit in our lives. The word “hears” in Matthew 13:23 is the Greek word “akouó” which is a thoughtful listening where the listener is paying attention in an effort to understand. The words are not just going in one ear and straight out of the other. Similarly, the word for “understand” is the Greek word “suniémi” which is an active understanding meaning to put facts together, to consider, perceive and thereby arrive at a full understanding of the message which can then be applied practically.  

To the degree we are willing to spend time with Jesus and listen to Him, we will get to know Him. The more we get to know Him, the more we understand Him, the deeper His word takes root in our hearts and the more fruit we will bear, even up to a hundred times what was sown.

He is the lover of your soul and He desires intimacy with you more than anything else. If you want to be fruitful in the kingdom, be intentional about spending time with the King. He wants to speak with you today.

Lord Jesus, how wonderful it is to spend time with You. I want to know the depths of Your love for me. Give me ears to hear and understand You today. May Your words bear abundant fruit in my life. Amen