The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Luke:8:1-15

kjv@Luke:8:1 @ And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

kjv@Luke:8:2 @ And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

kjv@Luke:8:3 @ And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

kjv@Luke:8:4 @ And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:

kjv@Luke:8:5 @ A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

kjv@Luke:8:6 @ And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

kjv@Luke:8:7 @ And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

kjv@Luke:8:8 @ And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

kjv@Luke:8:9 @ And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

kjv@Luke:8:10 @ And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

kjv@Luke:8:11 @ Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

kjv@Luke:8:12 @ Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

kjv@Luke:8:13 @ They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

kjv@Luke:8:14 @ And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

kjv@Luke:8:15 @ But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Today's notes:

Context:

Before - Luke:7:36-50 Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
After - Luke:8:16-18 A Lamp on a Stand

Study Resources:

Notes:

The common interpretation of this parable, even among the casual readers that don't believe in Jesus is that He is speaking of the conditions of an individual's heart; that the plant grown has to do with one's faith. If Jesus has hidden the meaning from those, how then can this be the proper interpretation if all are able to assertain it? It does say that the various grounds are "they, which". Many take it to mean they individually when it better means they collective. The ground is a physical location, a environment of theys. The word goes out to all places and if not snatched away by those with power to do so, it is planted. The theys gather/collect around it and with varying degrees support it as it (the word) accomplishes that which it purposes (the production of the same exact seed in other places with greater human testimony to it). Thus we see depicted a massive multiplication of the word to all places in the world.

A preacher of the word must be aware of the place of theys that he is planting the word in. It must go everywhere yes, but the things that the preacher must successfully deal with differs in each case. In the wayside he must work to lodge the seed where it can attach itself and work to protect it from the authorities that forbid it. In the rocky places he must work through the tribulation and persecution that the theys because of the word will face. In the thistles he must work against the choking cares of this world. And in the good ground he must drive it all the way unto fruit. In all things he is working with the condition of the ground (not the seed), the theys that coalesce around the word.

The preacher's work, though it involves individuals actually concerns the local collective toward it's multiplication of seed. It is the success in the one location that produces others that will take the word out even further. It is the success of the one seed that testifies to the success of rest. It is not the preacher. It is not the individuals faith per se though that is effected. It is that word drawing to it a supporting collective that produces within that collective that which the collective nor the individual of itself can in anyway produce and that production producing duplicate seed for other locations.

This message is not sought for by the casual reader because they disbelieve in the ability of the church to multiply the exact seed in other places and conditions and that being the testimony along with the word of the word's power to do exactly what it was sent to accomplish. To them it is all about themselves and so they read it exactly as such.

There are certain things regarding the Word of God and it's preaching that all the naysayers will have to admit. That there will be a very strong attempt in many places to forbid this very word that will make every effort to snatch it away. Why if it is just a story? Why if no one will believe it any way? There will be much persecution because of this word focused upon the communities and it's individuals made in an effort to discourage others from joining in the movement. Why? Why if it is all but foolishness? Even where there is not considerable persecution (like the USA presently) there will be the cares of this world choking off the truer message, it will become a self help prosperity message rather than a self sacrificial brotherly kingdom in Christ message. One would also have to admit that the word has spread, it remains strong today (we are it's product), and it is spreading further still despite all of this contrary pressure against it. This testifies to the power of said word and the purpose it has been willed to accomplish.

Key Messages:

Declaring Certainty

kjv@Isaiah:61:1 @ The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

kjv@Luke:9:2 @ And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

kjv@1Thessalonians:2:9 @ For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

kjv@2Timothy:2:15 @ Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Further Resources:

Comment Board:Luke:8:1-15
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Luke:8:1-15 rwp@Luke:8:1-15 mhcc@Luke:8:1-15
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index