Luke 8:4-15 ~ 4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: 5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. 8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? 10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. 14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. 15 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.
If you are in doubt this morning or you find that you have no growth, examine yourself in the light of the parable. Are you full of joy at receiving the word of God? Have you been stirred by the Spirit, and Jesus has made a great impression on you? Have you received Him into your very soul or has He just entered your mind and ear?
If seed falls only on slight surface soil, covering a rocky bottom, there can be no root depth. The roots will spread out, the stem shoot up, but it can find no lasting moisture for necessary growth and fruit production. It looks good for a while. It will wilt in the heat of the day and finally cannot be revived. It is dead. We need to say to ourselves; Have I been trusting my own strength and just been making an outward show? Has my heart been on fleshly things most all of the time? Am I rooted to a devoted life and love for Jesus? Has my heart been softened and nourished by God’s grace? If not, I have allowed no ground to be broken, and therefore, no sanctification is allowed to take place.
Have you counted the cost of being a true follower of Jesus Christ? Ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit for your life and service. He will possess you immediately, abide in you, and give you enduring power.
“All of Me”
All of me is yours Lord,
All of me now take.
Possess me, mold me, make me.
Then I’ll never be a fake.
~Tom Milam
Daily Jewel:
“Have you counted the cost of being a true follower of Jesus Christ?”
Weekly Memory Verses: Genesis 22:9-13
With love and prayers,
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