Reading 1?? A Word
After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him. (Luke 8:1 NIV)
What was Jesus basic message? Luke says that he was ?proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.? To what degree does our basic message overlap his? Diverge from his?
Reading 2?? A Feeling
"But the seed in the good earth?these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there's a harvest. (Luke 8:15 MSG)
I want to be the good-heart more and more. I feel hungry and thirsty for this. I want to cling to what Jesus says. I long to persevere when it's hard. I want to see a harvest.?What do I feel as I read and reflect on this passage?
Basic feelings:
- Happy: for the harvest I'm seeing in this season.
- Sad: for far less fruitful seasons because of a far less noble heart.
- Mad: at the evil one who opposes and steals from us.
- Fear: that I will lose heart as I sometimes have in the past.
- Hurt: by the religious idea that the gospel is more a starting point than a way of life.
Reading 3 ? An Invitation
Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!? When he had said this, he called out, ?Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.? (Luke 8:8 NLT)
One hundred times what was planted. How long will it take to see this hundredfold return? Might this be such a season? Might the long work of digging a skyscraper foundation finally come to the place where the skyscraper rapidly rises into the sky? If you wish it, Lord, I would welcome it. Grant me a heart focused on you in any of this.?I feel invited to be more hopeful in you than I am in an anticipated harvest. Thank you.
