Scripture - Luke 8:18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.”
Observation - In this chapter, Jesus taught the parable of the sower and the seed and shed light on the fact that the seed (the Word of God) is able to take root and produce a harvest based on the condition of the soil (our hearts). His parable was one of explanation and admonition. Our hearts need to be soft to hear and receive God's word to produce fruit. We can't afford to have heard hearts, hearts that that are shallow, nor hearts that are corrupted by all sorts of life's worries. The above verses go on to warn the reader to "consider carefully" how he listens (to God's Word, and God as he speaks). The implication is that if one has (has heard with a soft heart and allowed God's Word to take root) then it will produce a harvest and God will continue to add more because of that individual's receptivity. On the contrary, the one who has not (the one who refused to receive God's Word into his life and practice), what he has (thinks he has) has will be removed. This implies that whatever rule of law he is trusting in will be revealed as worthless. Instead of it producing any type of fruit, it will crumble and fall away and fail them.
Application - I can see a warning in these verses that applies to me. From time to time my posture toward the Word of God deteriorates. It is generally unintentional. It is probably an issue of familiarity. I hear preaching or I read scripture and I treat it as something common. I have often read it before, or heard the truth before and I have a tendency to view it with my eyes but not receive it with my heart. Without realizing it, I shelve God's Word because it has become "the same old thing." It's not that I don't believe it. It has simply become common. I unintentionally fall into the category of the seed falling on the path. My heart has become hardened. The path has been hardened because it is well warn. It is commonly used. Therefore the seed cannot penetrate.
Hosea 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.
God is able to soften my heart once again if I repent for my hardness. Repentance is the hoe for the hardened soil. God will be able to yet again make a deposit into my soul. What I have been given will remain and produce a harvest, and I will be given more!
Prayer - Lord, I repent for the hardness of my heart and ask you to once again refresh to soil of my life. Allow your Word to take root and produce a harvest.
