PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Luke 8:11-15
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“The seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart.” (Luke 8:15)
We live in a time when the message about Jesus is easily accessed.
We can read it or hear it in a variety of ways, and many people do.
But these words raise the question of what we do with what we receive.
When we read the bible, or hear a message, do we embrace and apply what we learn?
Are our hearts good and noble, that is, are they healthy and sincere?
There is always a message for us to hear and apply, though it will take effort.
When we persevere in applying putting it into practice, there will be results.
The enemy knows this, so he does what he can to keep us from doing that.
Of the four kinds of seed mentioned, only one (1/4) actually retains it.
Is this a commentary on how many people actually take Jesus seriously?
Half of the seed hear and receive it, but other stuff gets in the way.
Am I like seed #2 or #3, hearing and receiving but falling away and not maturing?
What does how I hear or read the message about Jesus say about my heart?
What crop will come from my reading these words from Jesus today?
PRAYER
Lord, I receive a lot of seed, but is that producing a crop – the fruit of the Spirit – in me? Or am I like seed #2 or #3, falling away or not maturing?
Lord help us prepare the soil for sowing – that it wouldn’t be rocky or shallow or constantly under heat. Help me not be doubtful or full of my own assumptions on what you have in store.
Even in ministry – whether overseas or now – I find that sometimes ‘life and its concerns’ – get in the way. Do I spend to much time taking care of my own things – does it get in the way of responding to the needs and opportunities to serving others? I think at times it does. It is a regular battle not to be anxious about something that really doesn’t matter much or something that I really need not worry about. That is why sometimes life and its busyness gets in the way. I’m hoping that I can make life and living in the way of ministry – working with – that the priority is driven by serving others. Lord help me to serve – to be the fruitful tree!
To hear is to do. Hearing the Word means doing the Word in deed. They will know we are Christians by our love – putting love in action producing the fruit of the Spirit. Others will know who we are by the fruit we produce – just like the seed sown.
I will serve You
because i love you
you have given life to me
i was nothing until you found me
you have given life to me
heartaches, broken people
ruined lives are why you died on calvary
your touch is what i long for
you have given life to me