Receptivity

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Receptivity is the desire to hear and the willingness to accept God’s Word! The Master exhorted, “Therefore take heed how you hear” (Luke 8:18). This admonition concluded His teaching about the different soils (hearts) on which the seed (God’s Word) falls. Some hearts are hard. Some hearts are shallow. Some hearts are distracted. Some hearts are good. Good hearts are those who are prepared to receive His word. Understanding the importance of hearing God’s Word, we are not surprised to find receptivity frequently discussed in Scripture. Consider these statements by the Master:

• “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

• “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matt.11:5).

• “When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, ‘Hear and understand”‘ (Matthew 15:10).

• “And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!’ But He said, ‘More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it”‘ (Luke 11:27-28).

• “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).

Receptivity, the desire to hear and the willingness to accept God’s Word, is evident in the grand stories of conversion. Consider these:

• On Pentecost “those who gladly received his word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:41).

• When Philip asked the eunuch if he understood what he was reading, he responded, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” He invited Philip to help him (Act 8:30,31).

• Saul of Tarsus said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” (Acts 9:6).

• Cornelius told Peter, “Now therefore , we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God” (Acts 10:33).

These, anti many others that could be cited, demonstrate receptivity! Contrast them with those who say, “I don’t come to Sunday School because I don’t get anything out of the lesson” or with those who habitually arrive late or with those who talk and play, totally disinterested, during worship. When it comes to the Word of God we all need to be “swift to hear” (James 1:19). God loves big ears and receptive hearts!