Exodus 19:3-6 (NIV) Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’”
Mark 4:14-20 (NIV) Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop– thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.”
How powerful the Word of Truth is! Yet, its power is either limited or released by the ground in which it is sown.
Despite the miracles they had seen and the special care they had received, the Israelites still had to obey God and be faithful to his covenant in order to be his holy nation. In the same way, Christians must realize that simply hearing the Word will not make us his disciples. Hearing can be stolen. Joy for the Word will not do it either since joy is a fleeting emotion. And persecution or trouble can make us lose our joy. In addition, hearing the Word without obedience to it allows worry, deception, and personal desires to block its life-giving power. But, when one hears the Word, believes it, and obeys it, then something marvelous happens. The power of the Word is released into the believer and life is created. The Word of God in a believer’s life is like a pebble tossed in a lake. The initial splash creates a ripple that becomes a giant wave of influence for God.
Miracles are marvelous! Joy is wonderful! Hearing is necessary! But obedience is essential!!
Tell you friends and family: “It is about obedience to all that Jesus commanded.”
Dear Father, thank you for our resurrected Savior. Enable us to understand that your Word is about obeying you. As good soil, empower us to release the power of your Word into our lives. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in his Word,