Your Daily Devotional for May 10, 2006

May 10, 2006

 

Preparing for Spiritual Growth

By Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”

James 1:21

 

The Word of God is like a seed planted in the heart of a listener. As we allow the Word to grow in our hearts and lives, we can see a process of preparation that must take place in order for that growth to occur.

 

Good soil is key to the growth of a seed, and the Word of God must have good soil in which it can take root. Oftentimes, that means that there are things that must be taken off of the surface in order for the Word of God, the incorruptible seed, to find a resting place within our hearts. A gardener does not go out to the garden with seed and just throw it all over the yard. He gets out and pulls weeds; he gets the cement blocks off the dirt. He removes that old broken-down bicycle, oils that old rototiller up and gets the ground ready. He puts the fertilizer in.  Why? He is about to plant the seed. When we approach church services and personal Bible reading, we, too, should be ready.

 

To receive the Word is to do more than just to hear. We must contemplate, meditate, apply, and allow the Holy Spirit to do His work. Get a good dose of the Bible. Study it out. The Bereans were more noble because they searched the Scriptures. They couldn’t wait to get to the preaching of the Word of God. I think of the churches in Korea, and how the Christians arrive early and sit in the pews. Often, they then fold their hands and close their eyes in prayer. They pray for the preaching; they pray for their own hearts. They confess their sin. It is no accident that for many years there was great revival sweeping the land. Revival came because there were Christians ready to hear.

 

We should come before God with this spirit: “Lord, please strip away anything in my life that would hinder me from hearing the Word of God. I need to hear from You, Lord. Purge my mind of impure thoughts so that Your Word can penetrate.”

 

It’s not about who knows the most, or about how long you’ve been saved. It’s all about how you receive the Word of God. Christians go through stages of growth. The concern is not where you are in your growth, but whether you are growing. If we are receiving the Word, everything else will fall into place. Reading some words is not enough. Are you allowing God to speak to your heart? Don’t rationalize the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.

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