Devotion's by Deborah

Devotion 12-29-23 Luke 8:15 -"But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance." Jesus told this parable about sowing seed. The sower sowed (scattered) seed, the word of God, on all kinds of ground - by the trampled down roadside, by rocky, thin, soil, by soil covered in thorns, and by good, well prepared, ready to accept the seed, soil. The results were predictable. The hard packed soil person was unyielding, and Jesus said Satan stole the seed. The rocky soil person allowed quick seed growth, but it was not sustained because there was not a good root. The thorny area person heard the word of the of God, but the cares of the world as well as riches and pleasures, interfered and there was no growth. Finally, the word of God fell on the good soil person, sent down deep roots, and thus yielded consistently abundant fruit for the glory of God. The state of the heart is the issue. Is that heart a hardened heart or a good heart, ready to respond to God? Verse 17 says, "For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light." The proof of the state of the heart is not in words but rather in fruit. What is the yield? What is on the inside? It will be made known both now and in eternity. What soil are you? Have you only a surface knowledge of God and His word? Have you allowed cares and jobs and pleasures to direct your priorities? Or do you have a deep hunger for God and His word? Anything but the last soil leads to despair or arrogance. Good, fruitful, soil leads to confident humility with God and confident faith in God. Verse 18 - "So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”