Hearing, Doing, Persevering
Is there life after death? This study talks about it.
Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EST.
“But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop” (Luke 8:15).
Jesus explained to His disciples that in the parable of the sower (Luke 8:4-15), the seed represented the word of God. In order for God’s word to do its work in our hearts, we must first hear it.
We can hear God’s word each week by going to a Bible-believing church. We hear the word through the hymns and worship songs we sing and through the sermon. More than that, we hear God’s word every time we read the Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to us. This involves not only listening with our ears, but having a heart willing to receive instruction.
Yet hearing the word isn’t enough, because, as shown in the parable, many heard the word but only a few produced a crop. Only a few showed evidence in their lives that they had been changed. The next essential step is to retain the word.
As any teacher will tell you, the best way to retain information is to put it into practice. Later in the same chapter, Jesus says, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice” (Luke 8:21). Not only must we put into practice what we hear from God’s word, but we need to persevere. Troubles will come, as will times of success; joyful events and seasons of heartbreak. Through it all, we need to continue to listen to God’s word and put it into practice.
Almighty God, thank you for giving us Your word. Give me a willing heart, so that I can truly hear what You are saying to me. I want to have a fruitful life. Enable me to put what I hear into practice. Throughout all of life’s challenges, help me to persevere in listening and doing. Amen.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP: The discipline of a fixed focus
Questions: How can you have a heart that really hears? What do you need to put into practice today?
About the Author Suzanne Benner
This devotional has really touched my heart .Discipline, self control and patience.To have a heart that realy hears,i think they are variables we can’t do away with and these are really areas that i’m struggling with right now.
Dear Lord,i need grace to dwell in your presence all the time and your mercy,do not take away from me because i know i wont survive a second without mercy. Help us Jesus in this race of Faith so that at the end,we wont only be crowned but we will live a fulfilled life in you in Jesus name.Amen.
Discipline,Discipline,Self Control,can really be hard sometimes I must be honest. Lord I Love you so much I will put your word in practice. I once was scared but know Im ready. And it really feels good. That’s because God is good.