The Word of God for wisdom:
Proverbs 12:2-3 (NLT)
2 The LORD approves of those who are good, but he condemns those who plan wickedness.
3 Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots.
The Word of God for inspiration:
Psalm 69:32-34 (NLT)
32 The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God's help be encouraged.
33 For the LORD hears the cries of the needy; he does not despise his imprisoned people.
34 Praise him, O heaven and earth, the seas and all that move in them.
The Word of God for encouragement:
Luke 8:9-15 (HCSB)
9 Then His disciples asked Him, "What does this parable mean?"
10 So He said, "The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that Looking they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.
11 "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.
12 The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
13 And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, welcome the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and depart in a time of testing.
14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit.
15 But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, bear fruit.
My observation:
It is important to guard our hearts. We are limited in our ability to evaluate the worth of a person because we can only see that which they display on the outside. However, God has no such limitation; He sees what is in our hearts.
The key that I take from a reading of this entire eight chapter of Luke is that Jesus is concerned about the spiritual condition of the hearts of people.
When we examine our hearts there are two things that we should pay close attention to. It is important to hear God's word. However, we have not rightly heard God's word until we obey the word. Let us each hear the word of God, and do it.
Luke 8:18 (HCSB)
18 Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him."
Luke 8:21 (HCSB)
21 But He replied to them, "My mother and My brothers are those who hear and do the word of God."
My prayer:
Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that when you look into my heart you will find a servant with a heart that is spiritually well. Father, I pray that you will be able to say that your servant is one who listens and obeys the word of God.
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Mark 4:20 (ESV)
20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold."
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O, to pass the pure in heart examination of the LORD.
ReplyDeleteMatthew 5:8 (ESV)
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.