Today’s devotion is Luke 8:4-15 which covers the Parable of the Sower. We will focus on verses 8 and 15.
“Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He would call out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Luke 8:8.
“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.” Luke 8:15.
What does it mean to hear God’s Word “in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast”?
“Princes persecute me without cause, But my heart stands in awe of Your words.”
First, we hear God’s Word with a sense of awe in our heart. We respect God’s Word so much that nothing is more valuable. We don’t assume that we understand God’s Word at first hearing. We hear it with wonder and great desire to truly understand it. We eagerly with joy cross-reference portions of God’s Word with other portions of God’s Word to make sure we truly understand it.
Psalm 119:11
“Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.”
“Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.”
Second, we treasure God’s Word in our heart. We remember it most. We meditate on it most. We do not fill up our heart with junk, but we save the best part of our heart for God’s Word. We do our best to remember which book, chapter, and verse (if possible) of the location of God’s Word. The best part of our day is hearing God’s Word.
Deuteronomy 11:18
“You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.”
“You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.”
Third, we impress God’s Word in our heart. We read God’s Word over and over again. We speak about it. We write about it. We keep our heart soft, so that we can impress God’s Word in our heart.
Colossians 3:16
“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
Fourth, we display God’s Word in rich settings. We generally teach about it. We specifically use it to advise others. We sing about it. We give thanks for it. We make God’s Word look good.
Proverbs 4:4
“Then he taught me and said to me,”Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live;”
“Then he taught me and said to me,”Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live;”
Fifth, we obey it. We live our lives in faithful and patient obedience to God’s Word. We treat it like it is our bread of life. We treat it like it is the air we breath. We never retire from it. Our last word, our last thought, is God’s Word.
In conclusion, as with every aspect of our Christian life, we need God’s grace to hear God’s Word “in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast”. That is why, we pray: “Incline my heart to Your testimonies And not to dishonest gain.” Psalm 119:36
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 