“But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.” Luke 8:15
At any time, the receptiveness of your heart will determine your response to God's Word (Luke 8:5–18). If your heart is like the trampled ground, hardened by the sin of bitterness and unforgiveness, you will be unable to accept a message from God. Though you hear the words of the message, you will remain unchanged. If your heart is like the shallow soil on top of a rock, you will accept God's Word in your mind, but the truth will not penetrate your heart to make a difference in your actions. A heart like thorny soil is a life that is distracted by the cares of the world; the pursuit of earthly pleasures prevents God's Word from taking hold and producing righteousness. The heart that is like good soil receives a word from God, applies it, and brings forth fruit in due time. This is the heart that Jesus desires in us, for the fruit will be a Christlike life. Any time you hear a word from God, whether through Bible reading, prayer, or worship, the way you respond will depend on how you have cultivated your heart (Hos. 10:12). How do you develop a heart that is like good soil? Repent of any bitterness, anger, or unforgiveness. Meditate on God's Word until it enters deep into your heart and not just your mind. Let Him bring His word into reality in your life (Gal. 6:9). See that you don’t devote all of your energy to worldly concerns, rather than to pursuing your relationship with God. The condition of your heart will vary, depending on how you cultivate it. If it was receptive to a word from God yesterday, this does not guarantee it is receptive today. Daily prepare your heart for the word God has for you! Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day
In this second post for today there's something to look at that's below the surface.
You go into a Doctor's office for a checkup. They have tools to 'see with their ears' at the condition of your heart. They are taught to listen for specific things. To translate those specifics to words that we understand.
In Christ we have the Great Physician. He needs no special tools to know every aspect of our hearts. Every cell of the physical and every thought and intention you have ever had. He doesn't need to put things in His ears and a cold metal object to areas around your back or chest. Doesn't need you to breathe to tell you your diagnosis.
We are all dying of sin. There's only one cure. He is the cure for what ails you. He already paid the price and experienced what you could never survive.
The question He has for you while in His Office is this: Do want to be healed? Is being healed of the deceptive ravages of sin something that you want? Death, apart from God, is where you are headed if you refuse that treatment He offers. But how can this be? He will take your place. He will substitute Himself for you. You, in turn must live for Him. In everything that matters you are born again. Given a new life. You will begin to really live. There's a catch. I knew it! You may say. It's to live for Jesus the rest of your days. To turn away from that sin that was your death sentence in the first place.
Jesus didn't come here, live a sinless life, die a horrible death on a cross, raise from the dead 3 days later, to give you the opportunity to live...to then ruin your life on earth. We live for Jesus out of gratitude. Out of love for the One who loved me so much that He willingly took my place, my punishment for my sins.
So what is really holding your attention in this world? Cultivating the soil of your heart is a daily exercise. Keeping the ground malleable, keeping it from hardening towards the things of God. The highway that we are on towards Heaven has all kinds of exits. There those enticing signs along the way to tempt us to leave that road for what is being offered. The cares and worries of this life will choke out the growth in Christ that He is trying to do in you.
You have to choose to stay on that road. You must choose to lighten your load so that you are not encumbered by this world.
Jesus said His burden is easy and His load is light. He promises rest.
This world promises great things but all are futile in providing rest. You are back to where you began and finding your way back to that road is never as easy as it sounds, outside of crying out to God. We think we can handle this or that, then ultimately learn we had no business thinking in the first place. That's how my repeated lessons in life have been.
Are you going to try to cry out to God? Ask Him for help in coming to Christ? Ask Him to save you and take your place? Breaking up that hard soil of your heart so that a new life in Christ begins?
Let today be your dependance day...that day you start being dependent upon your Savior and Lord to guide you through this life.
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