"Ears To Hear"

I believe that having "ears to hear" is the most important element in our spiritual growth.  Many times Jesus said, "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."  Having ears to hear is much different than having ears that hear!  The same things that Jesus said were heard by both the Pharisees, and by the disciples, but the disciples came back to Jesus and asked Him what He meant, because they desired to understand, Luke 8:9.  The parable of the sower and the seed is the parable upon which the other parables are understood.  Mark 4:13 says, "Do you not understand this parable?  How then will you understand all the parables?"  The meaning of this parable was given to the disciples when they came to Him and asked Him for the understanding.  Others had hearts that were closed, ears hard of hearing, and eyes that were shut, Matt. 13:14,15.  But Jesus said the disciples were blessed because their eyes could see and their ears could hear.  They heard the things that the prophets and righteous men of old had longed to hear and see.  The growth of our spiritual lives is not so much dependant on God, as it is dependant on whether we have ears to hear.  The measure of our growth will depend on our hearing.  "Take heed what you hear.  With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.  For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."  Mark 4:24,25.  In the parable of the sower and the seed, the fruit produced came from the seed, and the conditions of the soil where the seed was growing.  The fruit in our lives comes from the seed of the Word planted in us, and the condition of our heart where the Word is growing.  Fruit comes from the seed!  Plant more seed for more fruit!  Nurture the seed that has been planted, and guard your heart from thorns, thistles, and hardness.  A harvest of 30, 60, and 100 fold awaits us, as we allow the seed to bring forth fruit in our lives.  Is your heart still open to hearing from God?  Are you hungry and desiring more of God?  With open ears, you will grow and bring forth fruit for the Kingdom of God!