Let Him Hear

Several years ago, on a glorious spring day, I took my granddaughter, “B,” to a farm to pick tulips. She was so excited and full of joy as she focused on finding the best tulips, carefully selecting those with the most vibrant color. After several attempts, I noticed “B” was struggling to remove the tulip from the root. I walked over to her, and said, ”Sweetie, reach down as close to the soil as possible, grasp the stem and pull straight up.” With all seriousness, she responded, ”Mimi, I’m trying, but it’s not obeying to me.”

During biblical times, most of society was considered agrarian, and they were familiar with the natural law of sowing and reaping, but not the spiritual application. Jesus used the soils parable to explain spiritual truths. The parable describes seeds that fall on hard paths that do not germinate because they are crushed under the feet of people. Seeds that fall in rocky soil do not germinate because the roots never reach the water; or are choked out due to the weedy soil around it. The most promising seeds fall in good, fertile soil and bear fruit because these sowers hear the word of God, and retain it with a noble heart (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+8%3A15&version=NIV" "target=_blank">Luke 8:15).

Jesus eloquently described that God’s word is often trampled down by Satan. Many times, we want to hear from God, but we don’t want to hear when he corrects or when the directions he gives do not coincide with our plans. Just as Jesus Christ was obedient, we must hear and obey even when it is contrary to our desires. We are reminded in Luke 11:28, ”Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

Are you open to hearing God’s word?

Lord, thank you for forgiving me when I do not listen and obey your words. Thank you for teaching me to obey without delay and to trust you with all consequences. I am so grateful that as I hear and obey you; I will bear much fruit and bring glory to your Kingdom! Amen.

Throughout This Day: What is the last thing God told you to do concerning your situation? Are you heeding the voice of God and obeying? You will be in the perfect will of God when you listen and obey. The more we walk in obedience with God, the less room we give the devil to operate in our lives, and the fruit that we bear will point others to Christ. (Read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MARK+4%3A1-20&version=NIV" "target=_blank">Mark 4:1-20 for the full account of this parable.)