Understanding

"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." (Matthew 13:18-23)

There would seem to be a clear distinction between 'hearing' and, 'hearing and understanding'. Verse 19 says some hear but don't understand. Verse 20 says that some hear, and receive what they hear with joy, but fall away when trouble and persecution comes. Why is that? Perhaps their understanding of trouble and persecution is greater than their understanding of Christ? Verse 22 says that some hear the word, but the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. So perhaps their understanding of worry is greater than their understanding of Christ? I wonder how much time we spend worrying about things that we think money will be able to fix? I wonder how many of us think that worry is a good thing. I guess if we worry about something for long enough, eventually we'll arrive at a place where we're forced to do something about it? I think we trust in worry. Verse 23 says that the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown is the one who not only hears, but who hears and understands. But understands what...what was said, or the one whom said it? Perhaps true understanding comes via relationship. Most of us understand worry because we have relationship with it. Some of us understand persecution and trouble - because we have relationship with it. Some have a knowledge of poverty...some have understanding, because they have relationship with it.
The bible says that the Gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Corinthian 1:18). Why is it foolishness? Because they hear the gospel, but they don't understand it. And why are they perishing? Because they have no relationship with the Holy Spirit, the one who brings understanding.

1 Corinthians 1:18 says, 'For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.'

So today's revelation; I want to know and understand Christ, and I want to understand Christ more than i understand trouble and persecution, more than I understand worry and the deceitfulness of wealth. I want to understand the power of relationship with the Holy Spirit and the fruit that multiplies from that.

Philippians 1:9-11 'And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.'