Have you examined your heart lately? Not by going to the doctor and having a bunch of tests, but seeing if your heart is primed and ready to receive the Word of God. Today, keep the condition of your heart in mind and have a look at The Parable of the Sower
Luke 8:
4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,
“‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’[a]
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
These verses are awesome when you want to examine your heart. Ask yourself, “Is my heart prepared to receive, believe and LIVE the word of God?” Or “Is my heart in the right condition to “hear and retain” the word and “produce a crop?”
God wants your “hearing” to consist of listening and living what is read in the Word. Have you ever read a few pages in a book then stopped and realize that you don’t remember what you read? When it comes to reading God’s word, Christians must be prepared to read it, hear it, live it and meditate on it day and night (Psalm 1:1-3).
Again read Luke 8:4-15 above. How would you categorize your heart? 
- Do you hear the word but do not believe? (verse 12)
- Maybe you rejoice in the word, believe for a while but have no root to maintain your beliefs? (verse 13)
- Do you let life’s “worries, riches and pleasures” keep you from maturing in Christ and hinder your faith in Him? (verse 14)
- Do you have a noble heart? Do you obey and retain God’s word and prosper or “produce a crop?” (verse 15)
As Christians we should all strive to improve our hearts but we all fall short (Romans 3: 23). So thank God for His grace and His mercy! Strive to maintain a noble heart, but accept His forgiveness and grace that meets you where you are when you fall short. His love is always there for nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8 38-39); however, this doesn’t give us a free pass to purposely not believe. Still do your best. If you are seeking wisdom and desire to grow closer to God, have a noble heart and believe in His word despite life’s circumstances!
Father God, thank You for Your grace and continuing to love me when life clouds my vision and causes me to forget or not believe and live Your Word. Help me improve my heart so that I may hear and retain the wisdom I seek to learn from You. Please cause Your light to shine in and through me so that I may help others find You. In Jesus Name, Amen!
When improving your heart or maintaining a noble heart, what methods do you find useful? Bible study? Devotionals? Daily time in the Word? We’d love for you to share below!
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