There is a commercial on television for cell phone service with the punch line, “can you hear me now?”
And then there is that frustrated parent who cries out to her child, “Are you listening to me?”
Jesus basically asked that same question in our scripture reading today. He said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Are you listening to me? Are you being obedient?
Jesus often communicated spiritual truth through parables which are short stories or descriptions that take a familiar object or situation and give it a startling new twist.
One time a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town and he told the story about a farmer who went out to plant his crops. As he was scattering seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.
What do you mean Jesus?
Some days we read God’s Word, but temptation and the attacks from the enemy take away the Word from our hearts. We are frustrated.
Other days find us receiving the Word with joy when we hear it, but because we are not grounded in the faith, we believe for a while, but by the end of the day we have fallen away. We are heartbroken.
Furthermore, we find ourselves on any given day hearing God’s Word, but as we go on our way it is choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures. We are distracted.
But then there are those days when everything clicks. We read God’s Word, it sinks in and we grow in God. We are growing.
Where is your heart today? Are you listening to God and letting his Word take root in your life? Are you open to hearing what He is saying today?
Hearing and applying God’s Word is a choice. Let’s choose this day to listen.
Devotional prayer: Father, help me to listen to your Word today and apply it to my life. I long to grow in my walk with you. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
As some of you know, the Rangers planted a garden again this year and part of the merit for gardening and plant science is all of the parables that Jesus spoke on concerning plants and trees. Our spiritual growth is closely linked (through parables) with the life cycle of plants and trees. The Holy Spirit assists us in weeding and pruning us to get the best fruit (of yield) from us.
While I'd love to think that I am in the full growth stage constantly, I am not that innocent. Having been deeply in all of these stages (rocky ground, among weeds, etc.) throughout my life, I try to be constantly aware of my readiness for growth. I think we all need to be aware of where we are each day (or even within each day) and encourage one another in our walk.
I like to use our new small group acronym in my daily walk. The acronym is AG LACE:
Application (of God's Word to our life)
Guidance (for ourselves and each other from that Word)
Love (in all ways)
Accountable (a partner to help you stay within the boundaries that you struggle with)
Confession (without this, one to another and to God, it is hard to remain accountable and follow applicable guidance)
Encouragement (we should encourage and lift up each other as we walk through our lives...we are a family and need to help each other out on a daily basis as needed)
Hopefully, this acronym can help you in your walk.
Love God, Love People.
Jon
Post a Comment