How fruitful are you?
‘The seeds that fell among thornbushes stand for those who hear the message; but the worries about this life and the love for riches choke the message, and they don’t bear fruit. And the seeds sown in the good soil stand for those who hear the message and understand it: they bear fruit, some as much as a hundred, others sixty, and others thirty.’ (verses 22,23)
Read Matthew 13:18-23
Jesus uses a lot of agricultural imagery in his parables. Here he uses the picture of a crop to speak about the effect of God’s word in our lives.
What effect is God’s word having in your life? Are you growing in your understanding of God’s word, and is this knowledge blossoming into loving words and actions towards others? Or, instead, do others look at you and see bitterness, bad temper, judgmental attitudes and selfishness? We can attend worship services every week, read daily devotions and listen to Christian music, but unless we understand God’s word—that is, take it to heart and apply it to our lives—we can’t make an impact on the lives of others. God’s word has to make an impact on us first.
Are you growing in your understanding of the word of God? What will you do about increasing your understanding of God’s word and applying it to your own life?
Loving God, give me understanding of your word, and help me to apply it to my life in loving words and actions towards others. Amen.
by Julie Hahn, in ‘Refreshment for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2003)
Visit the Daily Devotion archives page.
