MATTHEW 13: HEART CHECK

 

HEART CHECK

In the Bible, the “Heart” (Leb/Lebab in Hebrew, Kardia in Greek) refers to the center of a person’s inner life.

The heart is where thoughts and decisions are made before they become words or actions (Mark 7:21).

 

Apart from the heart’s importance on having a proper function for our body’s overall health, this is much more vital in our Spiritual life as it is where the Holy Spirit dwells and where God writes His will and test human intentions.

On today’s daily devotion, Matthew 13 discusses many parables, particularly the Parable of the Sower strikes me.

Jesus, we can also say Pastor, Preacher or Man of God preaching His word is the SOWER

God’s teaching is the SEED

Humans heart is the SOIL

 

Jesus describes the 4 types of soil (the heart v4-8) and its condition (v19-23)

Wayside (Hard heart v4)

A roadside stepped by many feet and is hardened against the penetration of any seed.

Condition: Hear God’s word but not understanding so the evil snatches the word away (v19)

     Pride takes over: “I don’t need to study the word, I feel quite satisfied spiritually.

     I come from a long line of church people, so I heard all of it years ago!

     Fear and complacency “I don’t want to hear new thing that will change my way of life that I’m already contented

     I’m no worse than others I know. I will just commit sin when I go to Church and see sinners

     I’m afraid the Word might upset me, so I’d rather not have anything to do with it.

     Spiritual Death - dead in trespasses and sins, life completely detached from God

Stony Ground (Shallow heart v5-6)

Condition: Hear and receive the word with joy but no root, endures only for a while, stumble when struggles and persecutions come (v20-21)

     Unresponsiveness - incapable of feeling true spiritual emotion or conviction, remaining cold and insensible to spiritual reality.

     Attends the service and equipping only when convenient, when there is free time and never commit

     Resistance to God - disobedience, rebellion, and a stubborn refusal to repent.

     Love to hear God’s word, understands God’s will that need to put in action daily but still justify the worldly desires and comforts

     Listening to different resources but never meditating on it, no digging deeper, no reflection, the word just enters the left ear and exits to the right

Thorny Ground (Crowded/distracted heart v7)

Condition: Hears the word, but the cares of the world choked the word and become unfruitful (v22)

     Crowded Heart - Filled with worldly priorities and stresses.

     Equipped to surrender life but due to life and personal priorities such as work, gatherings, lifestyle cannot be submitted to the leaders on task assigned

     Distracted Heart - Focused on material gain, success, or anxiety rather than God.

     God said do not fear and do not be anxious but always afraid of what can happen next and living worried

     Unfruitful Ground - A heart that hears but does not bear maturity.

     Understood tithing as God’s command but with fear of lack cannot obey

 

Good ground (Receptive heart v8)

Condition: Hears, understands, bears fruit in 30, 60 and 100 (v23)

     Committed and consistent to learn more of God’s word even needed to sacrifice

     Open and accepts correction believing that he is already living for God and not in his own self

     Persevere to obey apart from weakness and impurities

     Admits that Man needs God above everything and pursue to be Christ like

     Bears the work and the fruit of the Holy Spirit

     Transformed and continuously growing in Christ, a salt and light to every place and people

The seed in good soil flourishes because it takes deep root, intentionally cultivating and overcoming worldly worries. Just like water or healthy food, or relationship or even work that sustains us, receiving God’s word is intentional so we can be assured eternity in heaven.

We are called to actively listen and apply the message in our daily lives rather than just hearing it passively. Not listening and putting on the side until forgotten and never really encountering the Lord.

The focus is to hear God’s word and bear fruit (Galatians 5:22-23)

God’s word in our lives is consistent, we are so blessed with our Church through daily devotions, equipping’s, Bible studies, discipleship and resources that can access easily. But what is our response to God’s word? Let us check our hearts -

Ø  Do I hear the word like seed sown on wayside soil, rejecting the Word of God?

Ø  Is my heart stony and has not been renewed apart from the constant grace from God?

Ø  Does my heart still with thorns that needs to be cleared to make room for God's word and produce spiritual maturity aligning to God’s will?

Ø  Is my heart humble, open and ready to obey God’s Word. A "good soil" that hears, accepts, and acts upon the truth, bearing spiritual growth and fruitfulness partnering with the Holy Spirit?

Let v12 reminds us “Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”. Keep the word growing and making it visible in our lives, don’t let the seed taken from us.

Many hear but don’t perceive because their hearts become “calloused”, dull, willfully ignoring the message (v14-15) This is a real danger of separating oneself from God, thus, walking to the path of hell.

Let us pray:

Father God, we praise and thank you for your constant grace, for feeding us with your word daily and for working in our hearts in whichever state it is now. If we have a hard heart, help us to soften it and break it if needed so we may find your real purpose for us. If our heart is shallow, expose to us oh Lord the lukewarmness within us and help us to turn to you completely. If our heart is crowded and distracted, help us to fix our whole being to you and remove the idols in our lives. If our heart is receptive, remind us always that everything is from you and everything is for you.

Lord God, we believed in your word, your word is you and we need you every second. Set our hearts on you alone Lord. All glory is yours Father God, in the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen
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ELDER ERNELYN – JCRC CAMBODIA