the good soil

As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Luke 8:15

I love the way Luke tells us the explanation of the parable of the soils. There is a strong emphasis on the nature of the human heart in response to the gospel. It shows us how the Christian life grows from the heart.

The seed landing on the side path represents people who hear the gospel, but the devil finds a way to take away the impact of the gospel “from their hearts” so that they choose not to believe (Luke 8:12). The seed in the rocky soil is received with a joy in hearts, and after an early faith, quickly withers when difficulties emerge that test the heart (Luke 8:13). The seed among thorns represents hearts easily drawn into the “cares, riches, and pleasures” of life that choke the gospel from bearing mature fruit in the heart (Luke 8:14).

But in the good soil of a Christian, the gospel grows. It is held fast in an honest and good heart now cleansed by faith in Christ. It grows into a maturing crop that bears fruit patiently over time as from the heart real change begins to take place. It isn’t easy. But it is beautiful, organic, and real.

From a heart changed by Jesus through the gospel, I can patiently see the fruit of obedience to His Word. I believe this. I will continue to live for this. I will rejoice when I see the crop growing in good soil around me.

Do it again!

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,

we were like those who dream...

Restore our fortunes, O Lord,

like streams in the Negeb!

Psalm 126:1, 4

When my kids were little and some activity at playtime with them was particularly fun, they would squeal with delight and then breathlessly request, “Do it again!” Pushing them high on a playground swing... “Do it again!” Tossing them into the air and catching them with a hug... “Do it again, daddy!” The joy always was great and wanted repeating. And I often would comply until there was no way I could keep at it.

This psalm delights in God in much the same way. God brought Zion (the Temple Mount, synonymous with worship and the welfare of Jerusalem) back from Israel’s neglect and His judgment. And pilgrims trekked to Jerusalem to ascend the Temple Mount, thankful for a way to worship God in obedience to the covenant. This felt like a waking dream to those able to return in restored relationship. It was a delight. And the joy was dreamy in its intensity.

And then there is that childlike, breathless request: “Do it again, Lord!... Restore our fortunes... We want the joy of seeing a fresh spring of joy open up and flow through the desert of our pains!” This was the worship request of a generation thrilled with the joy of anticipation of worship. They did not want to lose that thrill, and so they ask for it to continually renew them like a fresh stream in the parched Negeb.

Lord,

I pray that childlike joy in the wonder of Your saving love in Jesus would always restore in me the joy of my salvation. Do it again!

Amen

Gospel... past, present, and future

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him...

Colossians 1:21-22

As a Christian my past, present, and future are all bound up in the gospel of Jesus Christ. My life is defined by what Jesus has done for me. Before I came to believe in Jesus, I was in the worst state imaginable. But “Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God”. Although I was alienated from God by my own sinful condition, hostile to holiness in my self-driven mindset, and only capable of doing evil in comparison to a holy God, Jesus chose to die for this mess in me! And by faith in His sacrifice, I am now transformed! He has reconciled me to a holy God by virtue of His redeeming death. I am changed. 

Now I am reconciled to God in this present moment. I am made right solely by the fact that the righteousness of Christ is applied to my account and since I am now seen as righteous by Jesus’ righteousness, the Father, Who is well-pleased with His Son, accepts me as His own. I am in proper, loving, family relationship with my Father in heaven!

And He will keep me. Jesus wants to present me holy and blameless and above reproach to the Father. I am free to live in a future glory not worthy to be compared to even my greatest joys today. Praise the Lord! I am saved... past, present, and future!

Delivered

Blessed be the Lord,

who has not given us

as prey to their teeth!

Psalm 124:6

You delivered me

from evil

what threatened me

is gone

by Your power, Lord

You delivered me

You saved me

from the curse

what would death do to me?

...now that I’m alive

by Your grace, Lord

You have saved me

You protect me

even now

from a world of evil

I am free

with Your hand, Lord

You protect me

You lead me

in truth

to do the things

that please You

in Your Word, Lord

You lead me

You will complete in me

by Your might

what You began in me

through Christ

in Jesus, my Lord

You complete me

gospel partnership

And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.

Philippians 4:15

Stewardship of my time, abilities, throughts, and income all directly tie to the growth of the gospel. Paul commended the church at Philippi for being a group of Christians who willingly supported his preaching of the gospel. Initially they were the only church to do so. But because they invested in the gospel, many other men and women became Christians. Churches were born. Lives were changed. Jesus was preached, praised, and promoted. And their financial commitment made it happen even in the midst of hardship. They were willing to do this because they had a gospel vision driving them.

Does a gospel vision drive the way that I live my life? What I want most to happen with my daily work, with my use of income, and with the relationships I cultivate is for Jesus to be made much of so that the gospel will change hearts. I want to live a life well invested in the kingdom of heaven. I want my greatest contributions made because of the gospel, in support of the good news that Jesus saves sinners, and for the future of His church thriving around the world.

May I use what He has given me in this life to spread the life of Christ. May I care like Jesus, proclaim His saving love, and live for the gospel today!

God always cares.

He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber.

Psalm 121:3

God’s care for me never stops. There is not a moment, day or night, when I am not kept by the sovereign grace of my God. The Lord never forgets about me. He is always with me. His care never fails. Even when I sleep, God’s vigilant love guards me. I can rest in the continuous care of God. For that I am extremely grateful.

Every morning this summer I have awakened to birdsong. Those birds sing under the watchful eye of their Creator Who knows when even a sparrow falls. How much more does He care for my soul? He sent His Son to live and to die my death so that He can care for me forever! That is an amazing love. Even as I am moved by it this morning, I am not even below the surface of the deep care God has for the world.

O Lord,

You love me with a love that never rests nor desires to do so. You will always love me. I do not need to put my trust in anything else. No job sustains me. No house protects me. No food nourishes me. All of these are YOUR gifts from Your unfailing, constant care. Thank You, O Lord, for never slumbering. Amen

joy always

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Philippians 4:4

Joy is found in Jesus and as I am reminded by Paul in this command, it is always found in Jesus. I can always rejoice in the Lord. I can rejoice when life goes well. I can rejoice when I experience difficulty. I can know grace in Jesus even as I struggle with sins in my heart or with others. I can find joy, even in the sorrows of life. There may be loss. There may be death. But in Jesus there is always gain and always life. Praise the Lord! I can rejoice.

Selfishness will miss this joy. I can moan over my pains. I can fuss over my relationships. I have a tendency to want more than I need and feel either deficient or entitled as a result. And all these sinful, selfish attitudes will rob me of joy. But when I center on the gospel and I am truly thankful for what Jesus has done in saving a sinner like me, I will rejoice! I will sing in my heart! I will know joy.

Rejoice, O my soul! Jesus has saved you! Jesus is now your life. You are always His and He will complete His good work in you for His glory. Praise Jesus for this great gift of life and grace. Know His power at work in you to bring you joy... always.