How can we ensure our spiritual senses remain open to God's truth daily? Understanding the Warning in Matthew 13:15 “ ‘For this people’s heart has grown callous; 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.’ ” (Matthew 13:15) • Jesus describes three dulled senses—eyes, ears, heart. • The problem is not God’s silence but human callousness. • Healing is promised the moment we turn; therefore, keeping the senses open is vital for daily fellowship and growth. Tending the Soil of the Heart: Daily Repentance • Hebrews 4:7: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” • Ask the Spirit to expose hidden sin (Psalm 139:23-24). • Confess immediately (1 John 1:9) instead of letting layers of callousness form. • Cultivate humility; a broken and contrite heart stays sensitive (Psalm 51:17). Sharpening Spiritual Hearing: Regular Intake of Scripture • Romans 10:17: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” • Read aloud; hearing your own voice helps truth settle deeper. • Memorize and meditate (Psalm 119:11); repetition tunes the ear to God’s cadence. • Replace background noise with audio Scripture during commutes or chores. Keeping Spiritual Eyes Clear: Obedience in Practice • James 1:22: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” • Light obeyed brings more light; light ignored dims vision (Mark 4:24-25). • Record promptings in a journal, then act on them quickly. • Watch for God’s confirmations—answered prayers, opened doors—so your eyes stay trained to notice His activity. Guarding Against Callousness: Watch Your Influences • 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Bad company corrupts good character.” • Limit media that normalizes sin; what entertains eventually softens resistance. • Choose companions who revere God; their sensitivity sharpens yours (Proverbs 13:20). • Filter every influence through Philippians 4:8 standards. Staying Sensitive Through Prayerful Dependence • Colossians 4:2: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” • Begin the day asking, “Lord, what are You saying today?” • Pray Scripture back to God; it aligns desires with His. • Maintain conversational prayer—short, frequent acknowledgments keep the line open. Fellowship and Accountability: Iron Sharpens Iron • Hebrews 3:13: “Encourage one another daily… so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” • Small groups, one-on-one mentoring, and honest friendships expose blind spots. • Share victories and failures; transparency loosens spiritual earwax. Testing Everything by the Word: Discernment • 1 Thessalonians 5:21: “Test all things; hold fast to what is good.” • Compare every teaching, impression, or dream with Scripture’s plain meaning. • Acts 17:11 commends Bereans for searching the Scriptures daily; imitate their noble mindset. Living Expectantly: The Promise of Healing and Growth • Matthew 13:15 ends with “and I would heal them.” God delights to restore sight, hearing, and understanding. • Expect fresh insights each day; He still speaks (John 10:27). • As spiritual senses stay open, fruit multiplies—thirty, sixty, a hundredfold (Matthew 13:23). |
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