One of the most rewarding practices in all of life is the memorization of Scripture. By God’s grace this is something I’ve been doing since my early years as a Christian, but lately the desire has grown even more. I like to choose one new Scripture per week and work hard at memorizing it (Discipline and Discipleship are closely related). I like to write the passage in a notebook, but I also use an app (pretty much every day), on my computer and phone that I’d like to recommend to you. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Click HERE or on the image below to get started. If you use the promo code “Memorize Scripture,” you will receive 20% off. Trust me, it’s worth every penny!
Psalm 119:11, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”
A quick word from my devotional reading this morning in Matthew 13:1-9, 18-22. This is the Parable of the Sower, the Seed, and the Soils.
A Parable is in one sense, an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. The people were not able to understand the straightforward teaching of Jesus because they were not saved and they were not open, so Jesus tried even harder to reach them with everyday things they might more easily understand.
In the Parable, the Sower is the same (Jesus). The Seed is the same (God’s Word). The only variable in the story is the Soil. The four places the seed landed is:
The wayside
The shallow stony ground
Among weeds and thorns
On good ground
To summarize briefly, these represent the different hearts God’s Word lands on. Some people have hearts that are not hungry or open at all, so the Seed doesn’t penetrate, they don’t understand, and the enemy comes and takes the Seed away. What a tragedy! Other are more open but shallow, and they get excited about the Lord and His Word when all is well, but the moment trials hit, they fade away because their faith has no depth. The third example is intriguing – it might even describe some Christians, who are saved, but have seasons of virtually no fruit – and why is that? Because their hearts are crowded and not exclusively devoted to Christ. We read in:
Matthew 13:22, “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.”
But the fourth heart is the heart that I pray for (Psalm 51:10; Proverbs 4:23). It’s the heart that’s open. It’s good ground and soft soil. I pray this would be us friend. Open up that Bible with an open heart. Sit in that study eager to hear…always be sensitive – for the Spirit of God will take the Word of God and conform us into the image of God. God will do miracles in your life if you take this Seed seriously!
Love you, praying you have a blessed day and abundant life!
John 6:66–69, “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
John 6:66. It’s tragic but true…it happens.
Over the years I’ve seen many of the “disciples” go back and walk with Christ no more, just as we read in this passage. One of the guys was a brother that used to teach our New Believer’s class at the church we attended. Shelly and I went through the entire course twice, we loved it, and we loved him. We even had him over our house, he taught a study in our home at one of our birthday parties.
But there came a day when he decided to walk with Christ no more. Was he ever really saved? Will he ever come back? Only the Lord knows. I do know he was a great guy and a great Bible teacher. But it’s interesting to read in our text for today how that after some of them left, Jesus questioned the 12, “Do you also want to go away?” Jesus seemed to be checking on them, their heart, their will…“is that something you want as well?”
Peter, who was usually the spokesman, spoke for the others, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also, we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Right on Peter! It’s 100% true, that even though there are those times in life we just don’t understand, we do understand this, that there is nowhere else to go. We believe in You Jesus, and we will walk with You for the rest of our lives.
