People Need God's Word

His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.’ [Luke 8.9-10] 

Among those who faithfully read God's Word, it is commonly known and praised how that the Bible reveals something new every time it is read. People need God's Word.

Jesus made the comment above after telling the parable of the sower to the crowds. Then, separately He gave the explanation above to His disciples before explaining that parable. After explaining the parable of the sower, Jesus made the following comment:

“So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” [Luke 8.18]

The parable of the sower is all about God's Word and what we do with it. People need God's Word. How we "hear it" is critical. I like how Jesus explained it between to two passages above:

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. [Luke 8.11-15]

A person should never be discouraged from reading/hearing God's Word. If we are to make disciples in the earth today, it will be by helping others in their own commitment to read the Bible. People need God's Word. In fact, it's not the disciple-maker's job to make people understand the Bible as much as it is to simply "sow the seed" in their lives. Only the Holy Spirit can open the secrets of the Word to those who cling to it. It is the disciple-maker's job to encourage people to read the Word and pay attention!

So many people today are fixated on extra-Biblical materials (books, recordings, videos, etc...) to understand what God's Word says. These are mere substitutes for God's actual Word and the work of the Holy Spirit to enlighten people from it. As much as people may claim they "learn" from a particular extra-Biblical source, it cannot compare to the revelation of the Holy Spirit upon their commitment to cling to God's Word. People need God's Word.

The parable of the sower will never be understood by the casual consumer of God's Word. However, the person committed to cling to it finds secrets only available to those who do so. This person is a disciple-maker because he or she bears a harvest of more seed - more people understanding God's Word.

While extra-Biblical materials may not be "bad" per se, we have a warning that should at least remain in our minds: even what they think they understand will be taken away from them. I for one, do not wish to risk the harvest cultivated from the pure Word of God versus someone else's opinion about the Word of God (no matter how encouraging I find it) that could cause understanding to be taken away.

Nothing would please me more than for a person to realize that this article is "extra-Biblical" and therefore conclude they will never read another one again so that they might instead give all their time and energy to God's Word! This is making a disciple. It is the seed grown in good soil so that other seed may be harvested!

People need God's Word.

Father, may we understand the parable of the sower in all its implications upon us today. Holy Spirit, speak to us through the Word. May we find grace as we attempt to connect the good seed (Your Word) with the good soil of a heart that clings to You alone!