6/5/2025 Daily Devotion: A Fruitful Heart ... Open. Grounded. Reliant.

Luke 8:11-15 - “11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The 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 believe and be saved. 13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”

The Word of God is so POWERFUL & DYNAMIC!

• It SAVES us.

• It TRANSFORMS us.

• It PRODUCES FRUIT in & through us.

His Word NEVER CHANGES … but the condition of our soul in receiving His Word can vary dramatically.

• Jesus explained this concept (to those who actually wanted to know!) in His parable of the sower.

• This parable absolutely can be applied to a person’s receipt of God’s Gospel Word at Salvation … AND God’s Word comes to us through reading Scripture AND God’s Word comes to us through the Holy Spirit inside us throughout any & every day!

• Don’t limit Jesus’ Words here to ONLY apply to a person’s Salvation experience … we battle these soil/heart conditions every day as we interact with God’s Word!

The HARDENED Heart

• Sometimes our hearts are not open to change … not willing to grow … not seeking to develop.

• Do you ever hear a brief idea/conviction/challenge during your day that you quickly brush away and don’t spend any time considering? … that is a hardened heart's response to the Word of God.

• Sometimes, we aren’t even open to receiving God’s Word to respond to!

The EMOTIONAL Heart

• Sometimes we get caught up in the emotion of a song or a message or a devotion and FEEL God’s Word calling us to change or act or step out in Faith …

• … but as soon as that emotional high fades the change/action/faith fades away too.

• We must allow the Word of God to penetrate deeper than our surface layer emotions in order to outlast our ever changing feelings.

The SELF-RELIANT Heart

• Sometimes we receive God’s Word, respond in obedience … but step into His Calling in our own strength, depending on our own understanding.

• Our own understanding is affected by the desires of our flesh and limited by our Omni-nothing scope of understanding.

• The Word of God calls us to step out in FAITH in the God of the Word!

The FRUITFUL Heart

• Open to be CHANGED by God.

• Grounded in the TRUTH of God.

• Reliant on FAITH in God.

Hold fast to the Word of God in an honest and good heart and watch Him bear His Fruit in & through you!