"HEARD ANY GOOD NEWS LATELY?"

Are you familiar with the children’s song taught in Sunday school ?— “. . .the wise man built his house upon the rock. . .” The second verse goes, “. . .the foolish man built his house upon the sand . . .” This song teaches the scripture found in Matthew 7:24-27 __"Every one who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock; but every one who does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.” Matthew 7: 24 and 26.

These verses along with verse 27 tell you that if you hear the words of Jesus and do them you will be wise. If you hear the words and do not do them, you are foolish. So foolish, that the “house built on sand” will fall, be flooded, hit by a hurricane, and otherwise be completely and utterly demolished! Certainly a strong warning to heed what is heard. But you first have to hear the words before you can act upon them.
 

EARS BUT NO HEARING

__”Though seeing they do not see; though hearing they do not hear or understand.” Matthew 13: 13 .

How can this be? Matthew 13:19-23 explains. __” When anyone who hears the message about the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart . . . One who receives the seed on rocky ground receives it with joy but has no root and lasts only a short time. Seed received among thorns is choked. Seed falling on good soil is the man who hears and understands, and produces a good crop.”

In the first scene, the seed has no chance to even begin to root. It is gone as soon as it lands — with no impact on your life at all!

In the next two scenes, there is no good soil condition. This soil represents your heart—it needs to be ready when you hear God’s words. You cannot get strong roots in rocky soil. Do you already believe that there is a God, that Jesus is His Son, and He loves you? Have you read the Bible just as literature? Were you taught that there is no God, and all this “religious stuff is silly?” If your “soil condition” is rocky, then you may at first receive the word with joy, but you quickly lose interest and revert to old ways.

Or, as in the third scene, you may hear the word of God but be so overwhelmed and “choked” by cares and worldly values that you no longer see a need for God in your life.

 

GOOD NEWS !

In the last scene, your heart is open to God’s word, and you feel the need for Jesus in your life. You will receive the word of  God as good news! You will accept the good news that Jesus is God’s Son and you will learn the good news that you can be a child of God and be forgiven of your sins.

The first step is to hear God’s Word. __”Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Romans 10: 17. You need to hear from competent Bible teachers and preachers, and read for yourself from the Bible. You need to daily search the scriptures to increase your knowledge, so that you may understand and obey what God wants you to do. __“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3: 16.

Please examine the “soil” of your heart. You may need to humbly acknowledge a sad and care-worn condition of a hardened heart, or of a worldly heart. Pray earnestly for God’s healing power to work on your heart. God will reward your efforts in preparing your heart for His Word. __. . . “He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Hebrews 11: 6.

 

 

 

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