ESOCS Devotional 25 October 2023 – The Word Has Power to Grow
MEMORY VERSE: “And he said, so is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.” Mark 4:26, 27
TEXT: MARK 4:21-34 (KJV)
And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Our Lord Jesus Christ used agricultural setting to reveal things about the Kingdom of God. One of the things He used have significantly is a seed. He describes what happens to seeds when they are used. The usage here is for planting. And it has a place where it needs to be planted to be able to function properly and effectively. And that place where it is planted is the ground.
The kingdom of God deals here on earth primarily with men. Knowing and accepting that, we would assign significance to the elements mentioned here which are the seed and ground. So, it would be okay to say that the seed is the Word of God, and the ground is the hearts of men. Compare Luke 8:11, 15 for seed and ground.
Here again, we are meant to know that the seed that was cast had the capacity to operate in the ground by processing itself and produce to reproduce itself through interaction with the ground.
As the seed, so also is the word of God. The word of God has the power to grow when planted in a good ground. Even when it is interacting with a bad or evil ground has the power to break the ground and produce conviction that will lead to the converting of the ground.
We know from agriculture when grounds are touched and altered can turn to a good ground that can produce good trees. The altering might be by fertilizing or irrigation.
In the human realm, the heart can be altered by the word of God in the sense of conviction and conversion of the heart.
Therefore, to engage the power in the word of God, all we need to do is just keep sowing it into the heart. It has the power to grow from the heart and affect the entire body. It can regulate the thoughts of the mine when it grows. It can regulate the feelings and emotions of the souls when it grows. It can regulate the actions of the flesh when it grows.
So beloved, the Word of God has power to grow it is life and Spirit. Do not bother about how it grows. All you need to do is to keep sowing it into your heart morning, afternoon and night it will take its course, it will grow in you and produce results that will be undeniable.
How do we sow the word of God? It is by dedicated, committed, anointed and regular/consistent reading of the Bible. By reading devotional books such as this one you are privileged to read now. By attending and participating in the Sunday School and bible class. By listening to anointed teachings no messages. By engaging with the word of God by all means! And the word that enters your heart will grow.
- How often do you give the word of God opportunity to grow in you?
- Father LORD God, thank you for the power of your Word. I ask for the grace to be committed to the sowing of Your Word into my heart always in Jesus Name, Amen!
FURTHER READING: Genesis 44:1-17; 15:1-6; Mark 4:21-34; Romans 8:1-11
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ESOCS Devotional 24 October 2023
