In our last visit we discovered an impact thought: input determines output. What we put into our minds and hearts will determine what comes out of our lives. We will be known by our fruit.
Jesus continued His teaching by using parables to show that the normal means of input, seeing and hearing, does not guarantee that what we are exposed to will be stored in our hearts and transform our lives.
Notice what Jesus says in Matthew 13:13, “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” Then He explains in verse 15, “This people’s heart has become callused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.”
Think about it: a callused heart short-circuits good input. You must give attention to what you hear and you must choose to keep your eyes open and focused on what you see. Understanding results from deliberate reflection and heart openness. Once you understand with your heart you must respond to the truth, turn or repent and choose to let the truth change you. This kind of a heart and mind set prompts Jesus to heal.
Applying this impact thought to our lives means we need to pray for attentive ears, open eyes, discerning hearts, responsive wills and faith in God to transform our lives.
In our modern world noise pollution and sound bites with pictures flashing across a screen make it very difficult to get God’s message. So be careful and always remember, input determines output!
