SUNDAY, 21 JANUARY 2024
TEXT:
Luke 8:1-15
1:
After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another,
proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him,
2:
and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary
(called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;
3:
Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many
others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
4:
While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town
after town, he told this parable:
5:
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell
along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up.
6:
Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because
they had no moisture.
7:
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.
8:
Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred
times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears
to hear, let them hear.”
9:
His disciples asked him what this parable meant.
10:
He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to
you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not
see; though hearing, they may not understand.’
11:
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.
12:
Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes
away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
13:
Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they
hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of
testing they fall away.
14:
The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on
their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do
not mature.
15:
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who
hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
TOPIC:
LET YOUR HEART BE A FERTILE SOIL
Preaching for the
salvation of souls in towns and villages remained the Lord Jesus' top priority
and it must remain ours too.
Please note that the
need to support Gospel ministry like the women did, especially ministers that
are giving themselves to preaching and teaching, still exists.
The Lord Jesus knew
that not all those in the crowds were genuine believers. The problem was not
with the seed or the sower but with the type of soil.
When going for
preaching or evangelism, we must pray that God will prepare the hearts of
people so that His word would fall on good soil.
QUESTION:
What kind of soil is your heart?
PRAYER:
Lord, God Almighty, make my heart a fertile soil for Your word to germinate and
bear fruit, in Jesus name. Amen.
Remain
Blessed
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