Anglican Devotional 24 July 2023 – What Type Of Ground Is Your Heart?

The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 24 July 2023 – What Type Of Ground Is Your Heart?

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TOPIC: What Type Of Ground Is Your Heart?

READ: MARK 4:1-20 (NKJV)

And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat [in it] on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea.

Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:

“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.

“And it happened, as he sowed, [that] some [seed] fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.

“Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.

“But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.

“And some [seed] fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.

“But other [seed] fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.

And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,

“so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And [their] sins be forgiven them.’ “

And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?

“The sower sows the word.

“And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

“These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

“and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.

“Now these are the ones sown among thorns; [they are] the ones who hear the word,

“and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

“But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept [it,] and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

THE MESSAGE:

The parable in the text brings before us the type of ground each human heart is with respect to our response to God’s word. the seed falling on the wayside and devoured by birds as representing the heart that does not retain God’s word because the devil immediately takes the word from such a heart. The stony ground represents the heart that rejoices at the entrance of God’s word but which soon loses the joy as affliction or persecution arises. This happens because the heart is not rooted in Christ and cannot stand heat. The seed that fell among thorns and was choked represents the heart that allows the cares and worldly lusts destroy God’s word in it. The seed that fell on good soil and yielded fruit represents every heart that receives God’s word and perseveres to grow in Christ thus yielding fruits that bring glory to God.

Beloved, your heart is expected to receive and retain the word of God just like the good soil, and persevere to obey it. Your perseverance is expressed as you stick to His word despite afflictions and worldly lusts. As a child of God, you should not allow the cares of worldly things or afflictions to choke the life of God in you. You are to be on guard and not allow the devil deceitfully take God’s word from you. To remain fruitful in Christ, participate actively in the things of God, even in your local congregation and fellowship consistently with heavenly-minded believers in Christ.

PRAYER: Father in heaven, make my heart a good soil for Your word so that I can produce fruits to Your glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) provides daily scriptural readings and reflections to help individuals deepen their relationship with God. This edition for 24 July 2023 focuses on the theme of forgiveness and explores how we can receive and extend forgiveness to others as Christ did for us. Join us in this enriching journey of faith and discover the power of forgiveness in your life.

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