Are You Hearing Well?
LENT DEVOTIONAL 2026 | DAY 15
Luke 8:1–21 (NIV)
By Alex Seow, Chairperson, Small Group Ministry
READ:
Luke 8:1–21 (NIV)
Jesus, along with his twelve disciples and a few women followers, travelled around in Galilee to preach. When a great multitude gathered, coming to Jesus from every city and village, the scene was set for His telling of this famous Parable of the Sower.
A striking feature of this passage is Jesus’s repeated emphasis on the act of listening. Eight times, the word “hear,” and its variations, “hearing,” and “heard”, appear in these twenty-one verses.
• “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear” (v8).
• “Take heed how you hear” (v18).
Jesus makes it clear that having ears does not guarantee that one is truly hearing. Receptivity is a choice. All heard the vibration of His voice but only those who are the “good ground” truly listen with the intent to change.
This hit me.
Over the past year, God spoke to me clearly regarding a difficult task. Yet, time and again, I chose to “leave my ears at home”. I understood His instruction perfectly but I resisted the execution. When I finally heeded His call and acted, I was met with His provision and a positive outcome. Amen!
I realised that the crux of Jesus’ teaching is stated in v21: “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” This is the definition of spiritual family—those who not only listen to the Word, but who embody it through action.
Obedience is often simple to understand but excruciatingly difficult to execute. Like in the situation I faced, I often find myself in a state of “knowing” without “doing”. God is nudging me to move beyond passive listening and into active obedience. As James 1:22 reminds us: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
Looking back, I realise I often failed to take action whenever anxiety or personal concerns distracted me—I would simply call it being “busy” and ignore listening to God. I know I can’t let this pattern go on, so I’m committed to focusing on my spiritual disciplines to strengthen my walk with Him.
[ Reflection Questions ]
1. Identify the “Thorny” Areas: Which “cares, riches, or pleasures” of your current life are most likely to choke out the Word of God when you hear it?
2. The Gap Between Hearing and Doing: Is there a specific “nudge” or command from God that you currently understand but have been hesitant to act upon? What is holding you back?
3. Cultivating Good Ground: What practical step can you take this week to “take heed how you hear”—perhaps through more intentional prayer, silence, or study—to ensure your heart remains “good ground”?
