The Saving Work of the Holy Spirit Through His Word
Scripture Passage: Matthew 13:17-23 (NASB)
17 For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. 18 “Listen then to the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one sown with seed beside the road. 20 The one sown with seed on the rocky places, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution occurs because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 And the one sown with seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 But the one sown with seed on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much.”
SUMMARY
Jesus interprets the parable of the sower for his disciples. The seed represents the word of the kingdom. One sown beside the road is someone with a hardened heart, who hears and does not understand. Evil can steal by taking away the word of God. One sown on the rocky places grows no firm root and falls away when affliction or persecution comes. One sown among the thorns becomes unfruitful because of choking by anxiety of the world and deceitfulness of wealth. But the one sown with seed on the good soil in one’s heart is who indeed bears fruits.
REFLECTION
In the past few weeks, I was reminded by God that I shall keep asking two questions during my devotional time. Who is God? In other words, do I really know who He is based on the foundation of biblical truth? Not by my own created belief. Secondly, God wants me to keep asking Him what His Will is for me daily. When I come into contact with the close teaching of Jesus Christ through the book of Matthew, do I allow the light of the Spirit of God to speak to me through words? Through today’s passage God reveals His desire for me is to examine my heart. Do I cultivate my heart to be soft enough to receive the word of the kingdom afresh every day? Is His Word rooted in my heart that I stand firm in the time of trouble and difficulty? Do I let my emotion or worldly temptation keep from God’s grace growing my faith? I hear the word of the kingdom like the sower, but God is the One who nourishes me through living water and God is the One who grows me to bear fruit.
APPLICATION
After checking my heart, I found that some parts of me branch out and form a stronghold of rejection. I have feared rejection and perceived rejection that strip me of joy in Christ. My coping mechanism turns me to seek comfort in my self-pity and isolation. These hinder room for my faith to grow and to bear fruits. My application today is to rebuke the influences related to rejection and replace lies with the truth of God. Romans 8:39 “neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”
PRAYER
Abba Father, helps me be a true follower of Christ who listens and understands Your word. Continue to show me who You are through gospel Matthew. Give me guidance to follow Your Will every moment. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and teach me Your way. In Jesus name, Amen.
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