Matt 13:1-9 (3)
Jesus was always ahead of His time. Even in our own day many do not seem to either accept or realize this truth., If we can understand this little picture lesson of the receptivity of the soils then we will be more likely to have a direct influence on those whom we are trying to win to Christ.
Not all people have the same level of interest concerning their salvation at a given time. They are at different points in their spiritual pilgrimage each day. This truth cannot be even limited to the four soils that Jesus described. He was not trying to limit the possibilities to four but was trying to teach a concept.
Due to varying circumstances, levels of training, understanding, emotional, psychological and spiritual concerns a person may be more willing to listen to the gospel at 9 a.m. on a given day than he will at 2 p.m. On the other hand his receptivity may wane again in a few hours and not return to the same level of interest for several days, weeks, or months. Knowing this we must seize the moment of opportunity to present the gospel when we see that someone is ready. We must continue to cultivate relationships with those who are not presently ready to come to Christ.
Dr. Gayle Woods
Acts 19:21-29
Browsing through your local Christian bookstore you will notice many titles that explain and describe false doctrines, cults and the occult. You may pick up a book about the New Age movement, Mormonism, or the Moonies. As you leaf through the books one by one you would be struck with one central consideration. Each of them is challenging the Truth! Galatians 5:20 says that this idolatry is a work of the flesh. God made man in his own image but ever since Adam and Eve sinned, people have been trying to create God in their own image. This is idolatry! Romans 1:22-23 speaks of this when it says people just like those of our society were
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (KJV)
This is terrible and we waggle our spiritual fore-finger at those who are steeped in overt idolatry. But maybe we should examine ourselves. Do our materialistic, self-sufficient, self-planned Christian lifestyles challenge the truth? Matt 6 says that we should be content to only have our needs met. Are we? Heb 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God. Are we people of faith? Maybe if we would divorce our “Christian” idolatry we would experience a real revival of holiness.
Dr. Gayle Woods
