Luke 8 - 9.8.25

Scripture

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.””

‭‭

Observation

Because of the crowd, Jesus’ mother and brothers couldn’t get to him. Then, Jesus said something really profound about how those who hear God’s Word AND put it into practice are actually His mother and brothers. He was basically establishing who are the true family of Christ.

Before this part of Scripture, Jesus spoke a parable about the seeds that fell into the different types of soil. The seed represented the Word of God. When Jesus interpreted the parable, He did not only say that those who fell on the good soil were the ones who read the Bible. The seed (Word of God) fell on ALL of the different types of locations (rocky, path, and thorns). Basically, all of those people he described had heard the Word of God. The difference is how each of them received it. It was the seed that fell on the good soil that put it into practice. By putting it into practice, the seed produced a large crop!

Application

Read God’s Word, but also put it into practice.

I want Jesus to refer to me as His family member. I also desire to be a servant whose seed falls on the good soil.

We are doing such an amazing challenge right now to discipline us to get into the habit of reading God’s Word daily. However, getting the information into our minds is just the first step. It must lead to transformation. We must be able to apply His Word to our daily lives and have it grow roots in our hearts and souls. People shouldn’t be surprised to find out we are part of the family of faith. It should just overflow from who we are as a son/daughter of Christ.

Is our lives producing the fruits of the Holy Spirit as we read and study God’s Word? Based on Christ’s definition of who His family members are, would He say that we are part of His family?

“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” -‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

““Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.”  Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭46‬-‭48‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Prayer

Dear Lord,

I don’t just want to go through our 21-day Bible reading challenge without any transformation or repentance occurring. Please reveal to me any ways that I am falling short and ways where my fruit has become stale. Please forgive me for the times I just check off my Bible reading from my list without it producing Your fruits of the Spirit. I pray that You would always remind me Whose I am when I get distracted. I never want Your Word to fall into the wrong soil in my heart. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi