The Heart that Bears Good Fruit

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 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. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience (Luke 8:4-15).

Because their hearts longed to understand the meaning of Jesus’ words, the Holy Spirit gave the true disciples ears to hear His kingdom secrets and Christ gave them a very clear explanation of the parable of the sower. His parable describes four different kinds of hearts that hear the Word of God. Only one kind of heart bears healthy, maturing fruit. Jesus taught that evidence of true discipleship is bearing fruit that glorifies God… “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:8). He shared this parable so that true disciples in all ages would know how to cultivate the heart that bears good fruit.

The heart that bears good fruit is not lukewarm. The heart that is likened to the path is one that is interested in many things. Like the soil on the path that is flattened by the footsteps of many travelers, the heart that runs to and fro, gathering much knowledge, but having no hunger for real truth is too insensitive to receive and nurture the truth of God’s Word. To seek and find truth, the whole heart must be committed to the search… “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). The heart that bears maturing, God-glorifying fruit is hungry for God’s Word.

The heart that bears good fruit is not hard. The heart that is likened to the rock belongs to the person that enjoys hearing good preaching, teaching, and maybe even praise music, but does not let the word become firmly planted in the heart. To be strengthened to withstand life’s trials, the heart must allow Biblical truth to find a deep and secure home within… “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). The heart that bears maturing, God-glorifying fruit is eager to receive and apply God’s Word.

The heart that bears good fruit is not easily distracted. The heart that is likened to the ground infested with thorns represents those who do not place a high priority on the truth of God’s Word. They let things of the world fill up their heart and squeeze out God’s faith-growing truth. The little fruit they have is powerless and never grows as they become like those, “Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:5). The heart that bears maturing, God-glorifying fruit is not distracted by temporal things in it its relentless pursuit of the truth of God’s Word.

The heart that bears good fruit is honest, good, and patient. The heart that is likened to good soil is found in believers that understand that Satan and the temporal world are relentless enemies that seek to steal God’s Word before it can take root and glorify God in the heart of true disciples… “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The good-fruit bearing heart is kept honest by God’s Word… “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). This heart seeks the goodness of God that’s revealed in His Word… “Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD” (Proverbs 16:20). It is patient and holds fast to God’s Word, “By which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:2).Which soil best describes your heart?

As we grow up into Christ our words and deeds bring more glory to God as we cultivate…

The Heart that Bears Good Fruit.

The Ears that Hear Kingdom Secrets

And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand’” (Luke 8:4-10).

Once again Jesus provoked the crowd of followers to take a step of faith, away from the crowd and closer to Him to become a disciple. This time the challenge came in the form of a parable. Jesus was going to explain the meaning of the parable, but not to everyone. The parable itself provoked self-reflection in the minds of His listeners. His declaration, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” was meant to stir their hearts to action too. What did the Rabbi mean by this statement? Everyone in the crowd had ears! Surely everyone heard His words. Only His true disciples sought the truth behind the parable. Before answering their question, Jesus revealed the truth that not everyone who hears the Word of God will discern the truth of God. The disciples’ eagerness to discover the meaning of Jesus’ parables teaches us that diligent disciples in every age have the ears that hear kingdom secrets.

Diligent disciples have ears that are sensitive to God’s Word. Even though the crowds grew bigger and bigger, for true disciples the increasing hustle and bustle in the crowd of followers could not drown out the words spoken by the Master. True disciples have ears that reveal where their hearts and minds are set… “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:1-2). The everyday busyness of life, work, and ministry does not deter true disciples’ longing to know the heaven-revealing kingdom secrets hidden in God’s Word.

Diligent disciples have ears that are stimulated by God’s Word. The disciples heard the same parable that everyone else did, but they were moved to ask for more. Upon hearing God’s Word, the Holy Spirit prompts Spirit-filled truth seekers to dig deeper because He wants to reveal the truth hidden in the Word of the Father that will glorify the Son in the life of His disciples…  “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you” (John 16:13-15). Diligent study of the scriptures creates and sustains an increasing hunger in true disciples for the Christ-glorifying kingdom secrets in every word.

Diligent disciples have ears that are satisfied by God’s Word. The disciples that sought the meaning of the parable received it and much more. Jesus would soon reinforce this truth with a promise that diligent truth seekers that dig deeper and deeper into His truth will be rewarded with rich spiritual revelation… “For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given” (Luke 8:17-18). Jesus exhorted His disciples to discover and share the secrets of the kingdom with others that might have ears to hear… “For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear” (Mark 4:22-23). An increasing understanding of soul-saving kingdom secrets and a growing desire to share them with the lost are evidences that we are truly born again, maturing, and productive disciples.

As we grow up into Christ we seek and share more of God’s truth because He’s given us…

The Ears that Hear Kingdom Secrets.

The Women that Inspire Devotion

Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means (Luke 8:1-3).

Among those who stepped away from the crowd of followers and closer to Christ were some special women. The Holy Spirit inspired Luke to record their names and present them as examples of devotion worthy of imitation by diligent disciples in all ages. While the twelve disciples are well known and had very powerful and visible public ministries, these ladies played a less visible but equally significant role in the ministry of Jesus and in the early days of the young Church. These were among the women who first shared the good news of Christ’s resurrection with the disciples… “Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles” (Luke 24:10). They were the first true evangelists! As we closely examine this Holy Spirit inspired account of their early days with Jesus, we learn much about the value our Lord holds for women and about the kind of commitment He seeks in true disciples. Earnest disciples will find character worthy of imitation here in lives of the women that inspire devotion.

These dear women were transformed by the touch of the Master. Mary was delivered from some serious demonic possession. Joanna was compelled to secretly escape the household of Herod to spend time with the Lord. These women had experienced a momentary encounter with Jesus that not only met a great need, but also transformed their lives. More than healed or delivered, they were truly born again and now they were vigorously pursuing the kingdom of God… “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Without this indispensable first step, the new birth, where we exchange the old selfish life for a new life in Christ, there is no genuine discipleship… “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). The women inspire us to live the born again life through faith in Christ.

These devoted women were following in the footsteps of the Master. They left their homes to travel with Jesus and the disciples. They wanted to be near Him and to be a part of His kingdom-building work. Joanna left the comfort and prestige of her position as wife of the High priest’s household manager to travel with Jesus and the disciple who had no earthly home of their own… “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Luke 9:58). Their willingness to leave their old lives and follow Jesus was evidence that they were truly born again disciples of Christ… “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). The women inspire us to let go of anyone or anything that might keep us from following Christ wherever He might lead us.

These dedicated women were committed to the cause of the Master.  They were not promised spiritual power like the twelve… “He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases” (Luke 9:1). They did not draw the attention of the crowds, but they caught the attention of the Holy Spirit who inspired Peter to remember their devotion. He shared their story with Luke who recorded it here for us. These precious women blessed the Lord and His disciples as they “provided for them out of their means”. Their unselfish devotion prompts us to consider that everything we have, our means, has been graciously provided by the Lord who supplies dedicated disciples with everything we need to give Him glory… “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). The women inspire is to demonstrate our commitment to Christ by committing all we have to His cause.

As we grow up into Christ we are more devoted to Christ and His ministry as we imitate…

The Women that Inspire Devotion.

The Attitude that Produces Disciples

“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Luke 7:41-50).

The unexpected appearance of the sinful woman at Simon’s dinner party for Jesus incited his anger and suspicion toward his esteemed guest. Jesus turned the event into a teaching and ministry moment. Simon got a lesson and the woman received forgiveness and salvation. But truth seekers in every age learn much about the process of winning and making genuine disciples here too. Out Teacher, the Holy Spirit inspired Luke to record for us three marks of effective and productive discipleship here. In His encounter with the uninvited dinner guest and His discourse with a critical host, Jesus gives us a glimpse of the attitude that produces disciples.

Awareness of guilt draws repentant sinners to Christ. Genuine disciples never forget the debt that Christ paid for us. Recognition of her great sin drove the sinful woman to seek forgiveness. Jesus taught that repentance is inextricably linked to salvation… “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). Productive disciples intentionally seek to live and speak in love, the kind of holiness that convicts and compels the lost to seek Christ’s forgiveness… “God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance” (Romans 2:4). Responding to guilt with repentance leads to forgiveness and salvation.

A measure of gratitude moves converts to serve Christ. Earnest disciples are compelled to share the gospel and engage in disciple-making work by the love that drove Christ to the cross on our behalf… “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). Just as her gratitude for Christ’s forgiveness was increased when she displayed her great devotion to Him before others, productive disciples experience increased thanksgiving as we share His gospel of forgiveness with others… “As grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:15). Increasing gratitude leads to higher levels of service to Christ and others.

Faith in His grace introduces disciples to the peace of Christ. Maturing disciples have an increasing faith in Christ’s forgiveness that gives them peace to live through and above the trials of this temporal life… “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  Jesus promised peace if the sinful woman would trust in Him despite the world’s condemnation. Productive disciples who trust in Christ will experience the same supernatural peace in any natural trial or situation… “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). Trusting God’s grace sets us free from anxiety and fills us with His incomparable peace.

As we grow up into Christ like the sinful woman, we are increasingly grateful for His forgiveness, our faith in Him matures, and we become more effective disciple-makers as we reflect…

The Attitude that Produces Disciples.

The Fellowship that Enriches Us

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher” (Luke 7:36-40).

From the beginning of His ministry on earth the pattern was clear. The Word of God became incarnate and dwelt among men in order to reveal the grace, truth, and glory of God… “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The result was an ever-increasing crowd of followers wherever He went. But Jesus did not come to make followers. He came to make disciples. In word and deed His ministry was a relentless confrontation with His truth that challenged followers to step away from the crowd and closer to Jesus in order to mature from follower into disciple. In today’s text we see the Master provoking a follower who was a Pharisee to become His disciple by introducing him to the fellowship that enriches us.

The Pharisee gained an audience with the King. The Spirit did not inspire Luke to reveal much about the motivation behind Simon’s invitation to Jesus to come and dine with him. His reaction to the appearance of the woman “who was a sinner” implies that he had a judgmental heart. Perhaps he was following Jesus to find some way to discredit Him. Maybe he invited the popular celebrity into his home to gain some fame for himself. What we do know is that Jesus accepted Simon’s invitation without hesitation, knowing all that was in his host’s heart… “But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, ‘Why do you think evil in your hearts?’” (Matthew 9:4). The Spirit reveals an important truth about Christ here. Though He is the Son of God, He is also the Son of Man. At the top of His list of priorities is seeking and saving the lost… “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). He is eager to respond to seekers, no matter the motivation of their hearts… “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). Jesus is always eager to meet with an earnest seeker.

The Pharisee witnessed the forgiveness of the Savior. The celebrity that brought attention to Simon’s home also attracted the devotion of a well-known sinner. She was not on the Pharisee’s dinner guest list, but she was on the Lord’s heart from the moment she entered the room. Her devotion prompted some serious questions in Simon’s heart, but the questions were not about the woman, they were about the guest of honor. How could such a popular figure risk His reputation by associating with such a well-known sinner? Jesus’ attention to the woman would reveal a precious truth about the depth of God’s forgiveness to the Pharisee if he was willing to learn from his guest… “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man” (Mark 3:28). Jesus is always willing to forgive any repentant sinner.

The Pharisee learned a lesson from the Teacher. The real reason for the Master’s acceptance of the Pharisee’s invitation became clear as Jesus said, “Simon, I have something to say to you”. Wow! Jesus had truth He wanted to reveal to a Pharisee! Religious leaders and scribes already knew all the truth of the law. In fact, many of them followed Jesus hoping to catch Him breaking the law. With the words “Say it, Teacher” Simon revealed a willingness to consider truth from the lips of Christ. The Spirit reminds us of Christ’s promise that diligent disciples will discover truth in God’s word… “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). Jesus is always eager to teach a diligent disciple.

As we grow up into Christ and devote increasing time with Him and His Word we are blessed by…

The Fellowship that Enriches Us.

The Wisdom that Requires Repentance

(When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

“To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another,

“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’

For John the Baptist came eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by all her children” (Luke 7:29-35).

Jesus’ teaching about the greatness that God honors was strange news to the ears of His followers. His illustration of John the Baptist as an example of Godly greatness was not attractive to the crowd. John was in prison and about to forfeit his life for his faithfulness to the ministry God had called him to. Greatness that resulted in persecution and death was not on the agenda of most Jewish kingdom seekers. In every age there have been few that have gotten the message Jesus preached that day, but those who seek the greatness of God above and beyond the greatness of this world have stood apart and shined brightly in their generations… “That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15). Understanding and receiving the message of Christ requires a change of both the head and the heart. The bible calls this kind of change repentance. Christ’s disciples are truth seekers that earnestly pursue and obey the wisdom that requires repentance.

Repentance releases us from the blinding deception of the world. The devil’s primary strategy from the beginning of time has been deception… “I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). His deception permeates the unsaved world around us and blinds unbelievers so they cannot see the truth and wisdom of the gospel of Christ… “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). But when we repent, and turn to Jesus Christ, He heals our blind eyes and sets us free to see and grasp His gospel truth… “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor… and recovering of sight to the blind” (Luke 4:18).

Repentance raises our attention to the things that are above and beyond this temporal world. The wisdom revealed in the words spoken by Jesus and recorded in the Bible is not from the world. God’s wisdom reflects His thoughts and is much higher than our thoughts… “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). God’s wisdom makes both the heart and mind more Christ-like… “The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17). God’s wisdom is so opposed to the world’s wisdom that it requires a turning of our hearts and minds away from the world and toward heaven through immersion in His Word… “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2).

Repentance refines us to discern and receive the wisdom of God. Turning away from the world and toward the Lord is the kind of holy repentance that produces the holiness of heart and mind that sets us apart from the world and increases our sensitivity to the spiritual truth and wisdom of God. This kind of repentance enables truth seekers to have the mind of Christ… “’For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).

As we grow up into Christ turning away from the world and toward His truth we will discover…

The Wisdom that Requires Repentance.

The Greatness that God Honors

When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’

I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he” (Luke 7:24-28).

Jesus followed up the interruption of His ministry by the messengers of John with a word of praise for His cousin. The life and character of the Baptist was a living illustration of the kind of people Jesus wanted His disciples to become. He knew that when He returned to His Father, they would face increasing temptation from the enemies of God as they carried on the disciple making and building ministry He was about to confer upon them. He knew the world would be amazed at the authority and power the Holy Spirit would pour out on them and that many of them would be distracted from the ministry of making disciples by the temptation to build great churches and by the lure of pride and fame. He also used this as an opportunity to give another glimpse of the kingdom where the definition of greatness would be redefined by God. Jesus held up the Baptist who was about to forfeit His life for the ministry as an example for disciples in all ages of the greatness that God honors.

God honors greatness that is separate from the world. John was not great according to the world’s standard, yet the Son of God considered him an excellent example of greatness. Believers who want to know and pursue God’s will are not supposed to think or live as the world does… “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). We are supposed to be world-influencers and kingdom-builders… “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet” (Matthew 5:13). If we want to show the world the greatness of God, we cannot be consumed with the pursuit of the temporal and trivial greatness of the world. How might you strive for and reflect something of the greatness that God honors today?

God honors greatness that serves Him. John was great in the eyes of the Lord because he was sold out to fulfilling the call of God on his life. God sent him before His Son as the prophet of all prophets, in the spirit of Elijah… “For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come” (Matthew 11:13-14). Every true disciple is born again to answer the call to some unique work of God… “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). True disciples achieve greatness in God’s eyes through humility and obedience to the call to serve the Lord and serve others… “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:25-26). If we want to show the world the greatness of God, we must be consumed with the desire to fulfill His call to serve. How might you serve someone and reflect something of the greatness that God honors today?

God honors greatness that stimulates greatness in others. After lifting up the life of John as an example of greatness, Jesus challenged His disciples to imitate him by saying, “the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he”. True disciples have the potential to exceed even the greatness of John in God’s eyes… “And greater works than these will he do” (John 14:12). To show the world the greatness of God we don’t idolize the popular icons of the world, but we imitate heroes of the faith. How might you study and share the character of a saint to reflect the greatness that God honors today?

As we grow up into Christ imitating the humility and integrity of John the Baptist, we will reflect…

The Greatness that God Honors.