Hearing

I have been enjoying hearing the Gospels being read or acted over the last 2 weeks. I have had many surprises, as Jesus comes across as a much tougher person than I have sometimes imagined.
As I have listened his dealings with both his opponents and his would-be followers, he is consistently clear about the demands of discipleship.I have also noticed how amazingly generous he is to those who come to him for help. And I could go on.
But at the heart of my thoughts is the challenge to my own hearing. How deeply am I prepared to listen to what he is saying? The Parable of the Sower (or the Soils) obviously addresses this issue. Jesus identifies 4 sorts of people. The second is deeply challenging. 'The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.' (Mark 4.16-17)
Deep roots are required if continued growth is to happen. The reason for shallow roots, given by Jesus, is the shallow expectations of those who make a start in the life of a disciple. In our culture, so much is shallow and astonishingly trivial and yet so many are intoxicated by it. I am challenged to see how deeply I trust Jesus when things are tougher than I want. When I face problems, will I keep pressing on, or will I give up?
By his grace, I want to keep going. What is your hearing like?
Best wishes,
Richard