A recipe for a bountiful harvest

Scripture:  Acts 17: 11 & 12 “And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message.  They searched the scriptures day after day to see if Paul & Silas were teaching the truth.  As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women & men”

 

Observation:  Paul has had huge opposition to his message in Thessalonica – to the point of there being riots in the streets! – because the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has offended the Jews so much!!  But in Berea, the people had a different spirit.  Firstly, their hearts were open to hear the message.  Secondly, they didn’t just gullibly receive anything that came along – but they looked for confirmation of the message in the Scriptures – and they looked hard. There was no cursory glance to see if just one or two Scriptures – possibly taken out of context – happened to line up with Paul’s message.  No, here was a concerted effort to search for & find the truth.  But the result was conversions – because, having heard the truth with open hearts & verified the truth with open bibles, they were ready to receive & believe.  Like the parable of the sower, here was fertile ground prepared to receive the good seed that it might grow into that which God had intended.

 

Application:  What’s the soil of my heart like?  Is it rich & soft, ploughed & ready to receive any seed the Lord wishes to cast my way – fresh revelation for a new day?  And am I one, like the Bereans, who will take the time, not to gobble up any new seed that might come along, but to take that seed and examine it in the light of the Word of God.  And when His truth is confirmed by my search then that seed is able to be received, watered & tended that it might grow as full revelatory truth to me, to my life, to my daily walk.  If I cannot find God’s truth behind the seed, then it must be discarded and never allowed to grow & take hold, lest the field of my life be marred by many weeds.  No, I must be open, or fresh revelation cannot come.  But I also must be vigilant to not allow just anything, any thought not of the Lord, to take root in my life.

 

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, how important it is to get to know Your Word that I might handle Your Truth correctly.  But, Lord, I also need to maintain my heart’s soil, keeping it rich & ploughed, ready for fresh seeds.  I can only do that as I walk in obedience to You.  Please help me, Lord.

 

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

 

 

Sue Otto