Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”

Mark 4:24-25

It is a fact that muscles atrophy when not used. Perhaps an illness prevents a person from walking or using their muscles. Or maybe, a person just doesn’t want to exercise or even use their muscles. If you don’t use it, you lose it.

Is it surprising that if we don’t use our spiritual muscles, we will also lose them. Listening increases our understanding; the more we listen, the more we understand.

If we don’t listen, even what we have will be taken from us. Our spiritual muscles will atrophy.

How are our spiritual muscles?