“And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold… But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:8,15).
TEXT — Luke 8:5-15
Message
The basics of the Christian life are hinged on two things: the knowledge of God’s word and its application in everyday life. These make one a genuine follower of Christ. Jesus queried why He was called Lord and His words were not obeyed. He described the disobedient as those who build on sandy foundation and the obedient as wise persons who dig deep and lay their foundation on solid rock. When the floods come, the sandy foundation collapses but the rocky foundation stands firm.
Hearers of the word of God are of different categories and have different hearts (Luke 8:5-8). There are those whose hearts can be likened to a beaten path on which no plant can grow: the wayside heart. They are characterised by forgetfulness. They do not have the opportunity to meditate on the Word because the devil snatches it as soon as they receive it. The second category pays attention to the Word but it does not take root in them. They only apply the word for as long as it is convenient. The heart of the next group of hearers is likened to a piece of land full of thorns. These thorns take the form of cares and pleasures of life. Such people may hear and understand the word of God, but the cares of the world choke the word in their hearts. They put off repentance till another time, though they know it is necessary.
The last category of hearers listens to the word of God with a sincere and honest heart. This kind of heart is humble, always seeking to meditate on the Word and consciously noting areas where it can be applied in everyday life. Such hearers produce fruit of righteousness and holy living. Which of these are you and what kind of heart do you have? Remember that Christ’s ultimate expectation is that you should be the doer of “the word, and not hearers only”.
Thought for the day
Acting on God’s word liberates the mind and empowers believers.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
Mau God bless his word I our lives. Amen