2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
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THE GOOD GROUND (4)
MONDAY, APRIL 6
Matthew 13:1-23
Memory Verse: Matthew 13:23
“…received seed into the good ground
is he that heareth the word,
and understandeth it…”
THE GOOD GROUND (4)
The fourth type of earth is the good ground. The soil looks good above and beneath. It will indeed bear fruits. Matthew 13:8: “But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.” If God’s Word is the Gospel of salvation (i.e. the milk doctrine), it will save the sinner. If he rejects it, he has no salvation like the first three types of ground. If God’s Word is about sanctification (i.e. meat doctrines) and he hears and obeys, he is sanctified and conforms more and more to the image of Christ in word and deed. If he disobeys God’s Word, like the first three types of ground, he remains a believer, but his word and life will be like the world and less like Christ. Those around him will stumble, for he has sinned against God.
Jesus explains the good ground in Matthew 13:23: “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” The born-again believer will not remain in sin. He will soon repent, for the Holy Spirit will convict him, and the peace of God will leave him until he repents. When he repents, peace returns. The miserable knowledge of holding on to sin in his heart will drive him to repentance. Once he repents, he learns the blessing of sincere repentance. He has grown spiritually in the aspect of repentance. That is why the spiritual growth of a believer is guaranteed. The difference is that some will grow faster than others, as taught by Christ, in a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold manner. But growth will come, for it is not of man nor the power or will of man, but the power and work of the Holy Spirit in every believer’s life.
When a person hears the Word, believes in God, and receives God’s Word, he becomes a new creature in Christ. The sinful nature that belongs to the depraved sinner is no more. He is given a new Christ-like nature where he is now a servant of righteousness and no longer a servant of sin.
THOUGHT: Does the Lord transform my heart through the Word daily?
PRAYER: O heavenly Father, renew a right spirit within me and use me for Thy glory. Make me a blessing to all the people in my life; for Jesus’ sake, hear my humble cry.