Key Passage
"So listen to the meaning of that story about the farmer. What is the seed that fell by the path? That seed is like the person that hears the teaching about the kingdom but does not understand it. The Evil One (the devil) comes and takes away the things that were planted in that person's heart."
— Matthew 13:18-19 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
We would like to think that hearing is just a matter of good communication, but we must remember that Satan is the ultimate deceiver, the father of lies. He does all he can to confuse good communication and rob the Word of God of its power by stealing it away from those whose hearts are hard or who are struggling to understand. When communicating the Gospel with those who don't understand, we need to pray for softened hearts and for hearts that desire to know Jesus. He will reveal himself to those who earnestly seek after him. On the other hand, we must guard and protect our own hearts to keep the evil one from hardening them and making the Word of God irrelevant to us.
Prayer
Holy and loving God, please give me a heart that is soft and a mind that is understanding so that I may not only understand, but also be convicted by your Word. I want my life to reflect the character your Word is calling for in me. In Jesus' holy name I pray. Amen.
Related Scriptures
— Heb. 3:12-15
Jesus answered, "The things I teach are not my own. My teaching comes from him (God) who sent me. If a person wants to do what God wants, then that person will know that my teaching comes from God. That person will know that this teaching is not my own. Any person that teaches his own ideas is trying to get honor for himself. But a person that tries to bring honor to the one that sent him—that person speaks the truth. There is nothing false in him.
— John 7:16-18
Jesus said to those Jews, "If God were really your Father, then you would love me. I came from God, and now I am here. I did not come by my own authority. God sent me. You don't understand these things I say. Why? Because you cannot accept my teaching. Your father is the devil. You belong to him. You want to do what he wants. The devil was a murderer from the beginning. He was always against the truth. There is no truth in him. He is like the lies he tells. Yes, the devil is a liar. He is the father of lies. I speak the truth. That is why you don't believe me. Can any of you prove that I am guilty of sin? If I tell the truth, then why don't you believe me? The person that belongs to God accepts what God says. But you don't accept what God says, because you don't belong to God."
— John 8:42-47
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2017. All rights reserved.
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"So listen to the meaning of that story about the farmer. What is the seed that fell by the path? That seed is like the person that hears the teaching about the kingdom but does not understand it. The Evil One (the devil) comes and takes away the things that were planted in that person's heart."
— Matthew 13:18-19 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
We would like to think that hearing is just a matter of good communication, but we must remember that Satan is the ultimate deceiver, the father of lies. He does all he can to confuse good communication and rob the Word of God of its power by stealing it away from those whose hearts are hard or who are struggling to understand. When communicating the Gospel with those who don't understand, we need to pray for softened hearts and for hearts that desire to know Jesus. He will reveal himself to those who earnestly seek after him. On the other hand, we must guard and protect our own hearts to keep the evil one from hardening them and making the Word of God irrelevant to us.
Prayer
Holy and loving God, please give me a heart that is soft and a mind that is understanding so that I may not only understand, but also be convicted by your Word. I want my life to reflect the character your Word is calling for in me. In Jesus' holy name I pray. Amen.
Related Scriptures
— Heb. 3:12-15
Jesus answered, "The things I teach are not my own. My teaching comes from him (God) who sent me. If a person wants to do what God wants, then that person will know that my teaching comes from God. That person will know that this teaching is not my own. Any person that teaches his own ideas is trying to get honor for himself. But a person that tries to bring honor to the one that sent him—that person speaks the truth. There is nothing false in him.
— John 7:16-18
Jesus said to those Jews, "If God were really your Father, then you would love me. I came from God, and now I am here. I did not come by my own authority. God sent me. You don't understand these things I say. Why? Because you cannot accept my teaching. Your father is the devil. You belong to him. You want to do what he wants. The devil was a murderer from the beginning. He was always against the truth. There is no truth in him. He is like the lies he tells. Yes, the devil is a liar. He is the father of lies. I speak the truth. That is why you don't believe me. Can any of you prove that I am guilty of sin? If I tell the truth, then why don't you believe me? The person that belongs to God accepts what God says. But you don't accept what God says, because you don't belong to God."
— John 8:42-47
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2017. All rights reserved.
