15/08/2023
METHODIST DAILY REFLECTION FOR:
Tuesday, 15th August, 2023
THEME: Give Room for the Word
PASSAGE: Matthew 13:3-9
3. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4. And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5. Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6. And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8. But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
*THE MESSAGE*
Christ indicates four major types of the heart of man, when it comes to receiving the Word of God. One of the four types of soil which invariably represents the condition of man’s heart is a good one. The heart, like the good soil where the seed was sown, received the Word, allowed it to germinate, absorbed the Word, acted on the Word. The explanation of Jesus Christ as seen in 18ff gives a full meaning of the parable.
Indeed, the parable is a true picture of the church of God today especially at this end time. The church of God is full of the people that lack the basic understanding of the Word of God today. A typical example of the seed that fell by the way side is when there is a dichotomy in such hearts between the disposition of the Word of God and the erroneous beliefs on a given divine instruction.
The rocky heart represents the man or woman that received the Word but some challenges like delay in marriage, joblessness, childlessness, sickness, delay in promotion, etc, expunge and deflate the divine seed that was sown in the believer’s heart.
These points are the reasons a once vibrant brother/sister has now become a truant in the house of God. Please check your heart’s condition now. Regardless of worries and other challenges of life, a seed sown on a good soil will yield bountifully. So also any heart that gives room to the Word of God will yield quality and quantity harvest. Such heart will withstand the test of time as Jesus demonstrated and conquer the devil in the desert of temptation.
Dearly beloved, give enough room in your heart for the Word of God today and the rest of your life. Water it daily and you will find out that Satan will be afraid of you.
MEMORY VERSE: Colossians 2:6 “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”
HYMN: MHB 303 (7.6.7.6) O WORD of God incarnate
1. O Word of God incarnate, O Wisdom from on high, O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky, we praise thee for the radiance that from the hallowed page, a lantern to our footsteps, shines on from age to age.
2. The church from her dear Master received the gift divine, and still that light she lifteth oer all the earth to shine. It is the golden casket, where gems of truth are stored; it is the heav
drawn picture Of Christ, the living Word.
3. It floateth like a banner before Gods host unfurled; it shineth like a beacon above the darkling world. It is the chart and compass that oer lifes surging sea, mid mists and rocks and quicksands, still guides, O Christ, to thee.
4. O make thy church, dear Savior, a lamp of purest gold, to bear before the nations thy true light, as of old. O teach thy wandring pilgrims by this their path to trace, il, clouds and darkness ended, they see thee face to face.
PRAYER: O God, I yield my heart Your Word, help me to model my life after Your Son, Jesus Christ, in holiness, righteousness and humility forever. Amen.
