Wed.’s Devo - Good Seed Planted in Good Hearts

Read Luke 8:16-21 The parable continues but this time he is expounding on the seed. If indeed the seed is planted in someone’s heart then it is like a candle being lit. The person with the newly lit candle will not want to hide it, but put it in a place where all can benefit from its light. Jesus is the best secret of all and should not be kept a secret, but should be brought to light so that all can come to him. Then Jesus gave us a warning to watch how we hear. How we hear determines if the seed grows or gets stolen. If we hear with a heart to understand then the Word will grow in our hearts and expand. If we hear with a heart of unbelief then the truth that has been given us will be stolen by the devil. Then God gave us an example of what he was teaching. Jesus’ mother wanted to have an audience with Jesus but couldn’t get to him because of the crowd. When Jesus was told his mother was trying to get to him, he saw this as a teaching moment. He turned to the crowd and said, “my mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.” He was not being disrespectful of his mother. He was including her into his example. He was saying to the crowd of Jews that just because his mother was his mother did not automatically make her a disciple anymore than being a Jew did. The Jews thought they had a corner on God because they were Jews, just like Mary thought she would have favor because she was related to Jesus. That is not the criteria God uses. His criteria is belief and obedience. It is having the good seed planted in good hearts. Mary just happened to have both the relationship and the right heart. I’m sure she got her audience with her son. Lord, help us to be humble and not come to you thinking you owe us an audience; but may we come to you with a humble heart that moves your heart to listen.