Daily Word - Pick Your Seed - Luke 8:4-15

Scripture:
Luke 8:4-15 (English Standard Version)
The Parable of the Sower
4(A) And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: 5(B) "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up,(C) it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7And some fell among(D) thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded(E) a hundredfold." As he said these things, he called out, (F) "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
The Purpose of the Parables 9And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, 10he said, (G) "To you it has been given to know(H) the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so(I) that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.' 11(J) Now the parable is this: The seed is(K) the word of God. 12The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not(L) believe and be saved. 13And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it(M) with joy. But these have no root; they(N) believe for a while, and in time of testing(O) fall away. 14And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but(P) as they go on their way they are choked by the(Q) cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and(R) bear fruit(S) with patience.
Cross references:
Luke 8:4 : For Luke 8:4-10, Matt 13:1-15; Mark 4:1-12
Luke 8:5 : Isa 55:10; Amos 9:13
Luke 8:6 : John 15:6
Luke 8:7 : Jer 4:3
Luke 8:8 : Gen 26:12
Luke 8:8 : Matt 11:15
Luke 8:10 : Matt 19:11; Col 1:27; 1 Cor 2:6-10; 1 John 2:20, 27; Matt 11:25
Luke 8:10 : Rom 16:25
Luke 8:10 : Isa 6:9, 10; Matt 13:13
Luke 8:11 : For Luke 8:11-15, Matt 13:18-23; Mark 4:13-20
Luke 8:11 : Luke 1:2; Mark 2:2; 4:33; Acts 8:4; James 1:21
Luke 8:12 : Mark 16:16
Luke 8:13 : Isa 58:2; Ezek 33:31, 32; Mark 6:20; John 5:35
Luke 8:13 : Gal 1:6; Hos 6:4; Gal 5:7
Luke 8:13 : 1 Tim 4:1; Heb 3:12
Luke 8:14 : James 1:11
Luke 8:14 : Matt 6:25
Luke 8:15 : Hos 14:8; John 15:5, 6; Phil 1:11; Col 1:6
Luke 8:15 : James 5:7; Heb 10:36

Reflection:
How good is your listening, especially for the word of God? God is ever ready to speak to each of us and to give us understanding of his word. Jesus' parable of the sower is aimed at the hearers of his word. There are different ways of accepting God's word and they produce different kinds of fruit accordingly. There is the prejudiced hearer who has a shut mind. Such a person is unteachable and blind to the things of God. Then there is the shallow hearer who fails to think things out or think them through; such a person lacks spiritual depth. They may initially respond with an emotional fervor; but when it wears off their mind wanders to something else. Another type of hearer is the person who has many interests or cares, but who lacks the ability to hear or comprehend what is truly important. Such a person is for ever too busy to pray or too preoccupied to study and meditate on God's word. He or she may work so hard that they are too tired to even think of anything else but their work. Then there is the one whose mind is open. Such a person is at all times willing to listen and to learn. He or she is never too proud or too busy to learn. They listen in order to understand. God gives grace to those who hunger for his word that they may understand his will and have the strength to live according to it. Do you hunger for God's word?


Prayer For The Day:
Lord, faith in your word is the way to wisdom, and to ponder your divine plan is to grow in the truth. Open my eyes to your deeds, and my ears to the sound of your call, that I may understand your will for my life and live according to it.

Daily Word - Women Accompanying Jesus - Luke 8:1-3

Scripture:
Luke 8:1-3 (English Standard Version)
Women Accompanying Jesus
Luke 8
1Soon afterward he went on(A) through cities and villages, proclaiming and(B) bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2and also(C) some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities:(D) Mary, called Magdalene,(E) from whom seven demons had gone out, 3and(F) Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them[a] out of their means.
Footnotes:
Luke 8:3 Some manuscripts him
Cross references:
Luke 8:1 : Mark 6:6
Luke 8:1 : Luke 4:43
Luke 8:2 : Luke 23:49, 55; Matt 27:55; Mark 15:40, 41; Acts 1:14
Luke 8:2 : Luke 24:10; Matt 27:56, 61; 28:1; John 19:25; 20:1, 18
Luke 8:2 : Mark 16:9
Luke 8:3 : Luke 24:10

Reflection:
Are you eager to serve the Lord and to support the work of the gospel with your personal resources? During his three years of public ministry Jesus traveled extensively. The gospel records that a band of women accompanied Jesus and the twelve apostles. This was a diverse group of women; some were public sinners, others from rich or prominent families. We know that Mary Magdalene had lived a very troubled and tortured life. The gospel records that Jesus freed her from seven demons. Joanna, wife of the king's chief financial officer, held significant social and political standing. What brought them together and united them in a bond of friendship and common service? Certainly Jesus and his message of the kingdom of God had transformed this group of diverse personalities and temperaments. Each brought their gifts and resources to Jesus. Paul the Apostle reminds us that the Holy Spirit gives his gifts and graces to each and everyone for the common good of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:7). While God needs no one, he nonetheless, chooses to work in and through each of us for his glory. No one is unimportant or unnecessary in God's economy. The least in his kingdom find a home and a mission at Jesus' side. Do you know the joy of serving Jesus in company with others who love him?

Prayer For The Day:
Lord, set my heart on fire for you that I may give freely of the gifts, talents, and resources you give me, for your sake and for the work of the gospel.

Daily Word - Humility - Luke 7:31-35

Scripture:
Luke 7:31-35 (English Standard Version)
31"To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, "'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.'
33For John the Baptist has come(A) eating no bread and(B) drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' 34The Son of Man has come(C) eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard,(D) a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' 35Yet(E) wisdom is justified by all her children."
Cross references:
Luke 7:33 : Matt 3:4; Mark 1:6
Luke 7:33 : Luke 1:15
Luke 7:34 : Luke 7:36; Luke 14:1; Matt 9:10; John 2:1; 12:2
Luke 7:34 : Luke 15:2; 19:7; Matt 9:11
Luke 7:35 : Luke 11:49; Prov 8:1-36

Reflection:
What do childrens' games have to do with the kingdom of God? The children in Jesus' parable react with disappoint because they cannot induce anyone to join in their musical medley. They complain that if they play their music at weddings, no one will dance or sing; and if they play at funerals, it is the same. This refrain echoes the words of Ecclesiastes 3:4 -- there is a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance. Jesus' message of the kingdom of God is a proclamation of good news and of great joy for those who will listen; but it is also a warning for those who refuse. Why did the message of John the Baptist and the message of Jesus meet with resistance and deaf ears? It was out of jealously and spiritual blindness that the scribes and Pharisees attributed John the Baptist's austerities to the devil and they attributed Jesus' table fellowship as evidence for messianic pretense. They succeeded in frustrating God's plan for their lives because they had closed their hearts to the message of John the Baptist and now to Jesus. What can make us spiritually dull and slow to hear God's voice? Like the generation of Jesus' time, our age is marked by indifference and contempt, especially in regards to the things of heaven. Indifference dulls our ears to God's voice and to the good news of the gospel. Only the humble of heart can find joy in God's grace and favor. Do you know the joy of the gospel?

Prayer For The Day:
Lord, open my ears to hear the good news of your kingdom and set my heart free to love and serve you joyfully. May nothing keep me from following you wholeheartedly.