What lesson is God teaching me? Vv. 5, 12 When we believe God’s Word with our heart and are saved, Satan tries to take away the Word before it can take root in our hearts. Because a man’s heart is filled with the worldly things, the Word that is briefly heard without preparation is taken away. Vv. 6, 13 Some receive the Word of God with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They might betray the Word in the time of Satan’s testing. They enjoy hearing and learning the Word, but if they do not meditate on it and do not put it into practice, making the Lord a true master of their daily life, they will turn back in the time of trouble. Vv. 7, 14 Some might live with the Word but fall into temptation of life’s worries, riches and pleasures, not bearing fruit and withdrawing. If we do not actively resist against the greedy culture, so called capitalism, it will be used by Satan for his evil purposes, and we will spiritually dry up. This will lead us to being unable to discern good from evil, falling into life of a hypocrite. Do you see the fruit of meditation on God’s Word in your life? Are your worries and greed taking away the energetic, dynamic, and living joy of meditation? Vv. 8, 15 Those with a noble and good heart, who pursue the will of God, hear the Word and retain it, so that it may not be taken away. They will produce a crop by persevering through the time of trials and temptations until the salvation comes (v. 12). Like Jesus in the wilderness, let us meditate on the Word and overcome trials and temptations, producing the fruit of salvation.
Lord, let me hear your Word and retain it with a noble and good heart, producing a crop by perseverance.
