Our beautiful 23-month-old granddaughter is talking more and more. Each time I am with her, I notice she has added more words to her vocabulary and usually connects them with the proper meaning. It is so fun to witness her learning; I talk to her all the time, but I also listen and respond to her efforts. Sometimes, I have to listen to her words carefully and pause for understanding; it can be a bit of a mystery until I catch on. Words have meanings that communicate information and each time we hear them we have the potential to grow in knowledge and wisdom.
Every time the gospel is preached, it calls for a positive response from human beings. The meaning may feel hidden, but if we open our hearts to learn, we begin to understand and connect the Word with the proper meaning. The Word of God is the Seed and when it is released into the anointing it is sown in the soil of our hearts for the purpose of producing fruit and glorifying God. It’s a spiritual Word! Believers are to be receivers and responders to the revealed Word of God! The Word is hidden in our hearts.
We see the revelation of this Truth in our New Testament passage, today. Jesus is teaching the crowds in parables; this was prophesied in the Old Testament (Psalm 78:1-2). Parables serve two functions: They reveal truth [illuminated illustrations] to those who are spiritually responsive to God’s solutions; and they conceal truth from those who are spiritually superficial or hostile to God. Let’s not forget in the midst of the Word being sown, the devil seeks to prevent people from believing and being saved. May believers across the globe submit to God, resist the devil, and desire a pure heart, as well as the grace to produce a huge harvest!
Luke 8:4-15 NLT Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed
4 One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: 5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. 6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.’
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. 12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. 13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for making your Word and message understandable for those seeking to live by your grace and walk by faith. Continue to help us grow and produce abundant fruit. Be glorified in our hearts, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.