Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 8 : 4-18 "THE SEED IS THE WORD OF GOD"
Day 94 – Luke 8
Text: Luke 8 : 4-18
“THE SEED IS THE WORD OF GOD”
The parable of the Sower may have seemed like a simple story to the careless listener. To the spiritually proud, the parable may not have seemed very impressive. However to the discerning and humble disciple, the exposition of the Lord Jesus meant a great deal.
“The Word of God…” What did that phrase mean to the listeners? As in the days of Moses, right through the times when the prophets proclaimed “the word of the Lord” to the days of the Lord Jesus Himself – the Word of God had not been properly received and appreciated.
Moses worked so hard to teach ancient Israel how to appreciate the Word of God that had been given to them. We read these stirring words written by Moses,
“For what great nation is there
That has God so near to it,
As the Lord our God is to us,
For whatever reason we may call upon Him?
And what great nation is there
That has such statutes and righteous judgments
As are in all this law which I set before you this day?”
Deuteronomy 4:7-8
The prophet Isaiah beautifully described the majesty of the power of the Word of God,
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways, My ways,” says the LORD,
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there, but water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
So shall My word be that goes forth
From My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:8-11
IT ALL BEGINS WITH HOW WE VIEW GOD’S WORD
The Lord Jesus had chosen to teach nothing but God’s Word, right from the start. He would turn to the Scriptures and preach from the passage read (Luke 4:18-19). The regard of the Lord Jesus with reference to the Scriptures was never more clearly stated then when He declared,
“Man shall not live by bread alone,
But by every word of God.”
Luke 4:4
How should we regard God’s Word? Our regard for the Scriptures is revealed in the way we prepare our hearts to receive His Word.
FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF HEART BARED
How wonderful a Teacher Jesus was. Deep and difficult concepts are explained in the simplest of terms! Why is it that some benefit from the hearing of God’s Word, and some do not? The answer to this perennial question is to be found in the kind of heart that we have. How we hear and receive God’s Word is a clear indication of the condition of our heart!
1. The Wayside Luke 8:11-12
This person goes through the motions of hearing. However, he is really not interested, and so the Word of God makes no impression on the heart at all. The Devil is glad when he sees this. He snatches the Word of God away, so that there will be no chance for the Word of God to take root at all.
2. Rocky Ground Luke 8:13
This person is at best superficial. He is able to understand the Word of God as it is expounded. He may even be able to respond to it with some measure of joy. However, because he is shallow and superficial, the Word of God does not reside in the heart for very long. When temptations come, the individual falls away.
3. Thorny Ground Luke 8:14
This person is also fairly superficial. He is still very much drawn to the world. He falls away after some time. The world’s attractions prove too strong, and he abandons what he has been taught. His spiritual life is choked by “cares, riches, and pleasures of life” (Luke 8:14).
4. Good ground Luke 8:15
In this category, the Disciples of Jesus may be found. The Lord Jesus described their hearts with great tenderness and love.
a) “Having heard the Word with a noble and good heart…”
b) “Keep it and bear fruit with patience…” (Luke 8:15)
WHAT KIND OF A HEART DO WE HAVE?
It is important that we have a “spiritual check-up” from time to time. In which category do we fall under? Can we say that we come under Category 4? Let us pray for, and let us do our part in developing a “noble and good heart” that will “keep the Word of God and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15).