Basic Life Principle Every Christian Must Know
There is a certain principle that has been extremely helpful to me in my walk with the Lord. It is a parable that Jesus told in Mark 4. Jesus was teaching his followers how the Kingdom of God works within each of us. How come the fruits of righteousness, peace, love, joy and such are more evident in some people's lives, and not in others? Living a life of faith in God should produce much blessing.
First, we are told that in order to produce or experience the blessings of God in our lives (including answered prayer) the Word of God must be sown into our hearts and lives. (Chapter 4:14) Read the Word. Hear the Word. That is the beginning.
What happens next determines how much our lives are blessed and how much we are a blessing.
The first thing that happens after we have the Word sown into our hearts is that a spiritual battle takes place and "Satan comes immediately to take away the Word that was sown into our heart." (Chapter 4:15) This same story is told in Matthew 13 and in verse 19 of that account, Jesus says that the Word is easily stolen away from the people that do not understand what they have heard. These people are not close followers of the Lord, but are "by the way side."
Next, Jesus says that there are some people that hear the Word, but because they have a hard, stony heart, the Word of God cannot remain and grow in their heart. Even though the people were happy when they heard the Word of God, after a while they became offended or weary and when trials or persecution comes their way, they no longer keep that Word as precious, they lose heart and give up on following God.
Another type of heart condition that Jesus describes is one that is thorny. This person also hears the Word, but Jesus says that it does not produce any fruit in that person's life because the person becomes concerned with worldly things, and begins to seek money and the things money can buy, and becomes too busy living this life, that they lose sight of the value of their spiritual life of walking with their Lord. These "thorns" (cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches) choke the Word in their hearts, and the person becomes unfruitful in God's Kingdom. They cannot receive blessings and they are not a blessing to others. God is not glorified in their life.
The last person Jesus describes is one whom Jesus says their heart is "good ground". This person hears the Word, understands it, and it produces fruit in their life.
As Jesus said, a person cannot serve two masters. It is the faithful person that abounds in blessings. He gave His all. There is nothing He withheld from us. He desires the best for us. But there are things that would stop us from living the blessed life. As Jesus said, the first thing that happens to us is that Satan comes immediately to steal the Word out of our hearts before we can even understand it. Then we will find ourselves becoming offended at something or other. If we are offended, we quit trusting God and seeking Him, and the Word cannot abide in our heart and produce righteous fruits. If Satan can't get the Word out of our heart right away, then we need to be aware of cares, concerns, and desires for other things that enter our hearts and chokes out the Word. Then we find we have no time for God. We have no time for His Word. Our heart is thorny - ouch! There is a battle that we must be aware of. But Jesus told us about it so that we can recognize it when it comes. It will come. But we must prevail because our souls (mind, will and emotions) are at stake.
First, we are told that in order to produce or experience the blessings of God in our lives (including answered prayer) the Word of God must be sown into our hearts and lives. (Chapter 4:14) Read the Word. Hear the Word. That is the beginning.
What happens next determines how much our lives are blessed and how much we are a blessing.
The first thing that happens after we have the Word sown into our hearts is that a spiritual battle takes place and "Satan comes immediately to take away the Word that was sown into our heart." (Chapter 4:15) This same story is told in Matthew 13 and in verse 19 of that account, Jesus says that the Word is easily stolen away from the people that do not understand what they have heard. These people are not close followers of the Lord, but are "by the way side."
Next, Jesus says that there are some people that hear the Word, but because they have a hard, stony heart, the Word of God cannot remain and grow in their heart. Even though the people were happy when they heard the Word of God, after a while they became offended or weary and when trials or persecution comes their way, they no longer keep that Word as precious, they lose heart and give up on following God.
Another type of heart condition that Jesus describes is one that is thorny. This person also hears the Word, but Jesus says that it does not produce any fruit in that person's life because the person becomes concerned with worldly things, and begins to seek money and the things money can buy, and becomes too busy living this life, that they lose sight of the value of their spiritual life of walking with their Lord. These "thorns" (cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches) choke the Word in their hearts, and the person becomes unfruitful in God's Kingdom. They cannot receive blessings and they are not a blessing to others. God is not glorified in their life.
The last person Jesus describes is one whom Jesus says their heart is "good ground". This person hears the Word, understands it, and it produces fruit in their life.
As Jesus said, a person cannot serve two masters. It is the faithful person that abounds in blessings. He gave His all. There is nothing He withheld from us. He desires the best for us. But there are things that would stop us from living the blessed life. As Jesus said, the first thing that happens to us is that Satan comes immediately to steal the Word out of our hearts before we can even understand it. Then we will find ourselves becoming offended at something or other. If we are offended, we quit trusting God and seeking Him, and the Word cannot abide in our heart and produce righteous fruits. If Satan can't get the Word out of our heart right away, then we need to be aware of cares, concerns, and desires for other things that enter our hearts and chokes out the Word. Then we find we have no time for God. We have no time for His Word. Our heart is thorny - ouch! There is a battle that we must be aware of. But Jesus told us about it so that we can recognize it when it comes. It will come. But we must prevail because our souls (mind, will and emotions) are at stake.
posted by Laurie T at
11:11 PM
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