Verse of the Day 4/25

Luke 8:14  And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.   English Standard Version (ESV)

I had the opportunity this week to see all of my children and grandchildren.  The grandkids range in age from a few week old up to 7 years old.  They are all  precious as they are but our hope is that they will grow and mature in life and in their faith to become the next generation of Christians. 

It won't be easy in today's society.  They will hear the Word of God but they will also be bombarded by all kinds of messages and theories let a lone the "cares and riches and pleasures of life."   The "riches" here speaks to wealth, and the excesses that go along with it, "the desire to acquire".  All of those things make it hard to hear, to listen to what God has to say to us.

Thomas Brooks, centuries ago, wrote, " Earthly riches are called thorns, and well they may; for as thorns, they pierce both head and heart. They pierce the head with cares in getting them--and the heart with grief in parting with them. Earthly riches have cast down many, they have slain many.  If poverty has slain her thousands; riches has slain her ten thousands."
 
The passage focuses on hearing, true listening.  We are to hear, to listen to the Word of God, whatever it is wherever we hear it.  We are to take heed how we hear, how we listen and not let the word of God go into one ear and out the  other.  Let it come and dwell, may it reside in our heart and show in our actions.  May we have the good hearts who hear, who mature, who "sieze the Word and hold on no matter what" (The Message).

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Luke 8:13-15The Message (MSG)

¹³ "The seeds in the gravel are those who hear with enthusiasm, but the enthusiasm doesn't go very deep. It's only another fad, and the moment there's trouble it's gone.

¹⁴ "And the seed that fell in the weeds—well, these are the ones who hear, but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun.

¹⁵ "But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there's a harvest.