How's Your Hearing?

"Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have" (Luke 8:18).
     Here are the possibilities of how we might hear Jesus:
     Some Hear Jesus Gladly. Mark wrote, "And the common people heard Him gladly" (Mark 12:37). Those who hear Him gladly, respond immediately, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:41).
     Some Hear Jesus Continually. "And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter" (Acts 17:32). There are today those who hear Jesus, but insteadof obeying Him, they simply want to hear Him over and over again. They are never fully convinced or they simply allow other things to distract them.
     Some Hear Jesus Argumentatively. The scribes and the Pharisees listened to Jesus because they were "seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him" (Luke 11:54). Some hear Jesus with preconceptions and misconceptions. They argue, refuse to accept, and hold to traditions.
     How do we hear Jesus? Do we argue with Scripture when it is preached?
     Let's be people who hear Jesus gladly!
                                 -Chance Hicks, Jacksonville, Alabama
Saint James Assembly of Faith