(Begin with 1-2 minutes of silence)
Have you ever read a section of Scripture only to feel like it didn’t make complete sense? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
The Bible is full of a lot of different writing styles and genres. Some of it is Historical Narrative, in which the authors wrote a story of what was happening at the time. Others, such as the Psalms, are highly poetic. But ancient Hebrew poetry is very different than modern poetry, so the nuances presented throughout the Psalms may not make immediate sense.
When Jesus took opportunities to teach, He often found ways to teach by sharing a parable – a short story that was easily memorable and often communicated one main idea. While most parables have one primary teaching point, many include additional details which are used to help the listener more aptly ponder the full meaning of the parable.
The four soils is a story about living a life holistically rooted in God’s Word. Jesus later explains to His disciples that the parable is about hearing and accepting God’s Word, and the benefits of doing so.
READING & JOURNALING:
How would you explain to a friend what it means to hear and accept God’s Word?
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, it’s easy for me to read the Scriptures and hear it, but there are some parts of Your Word that really challenge me. Help me to accept all of Your Word and not live by cherry-picking the passages I really like. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(End with 1-2 minutes of silence)
south ridge blog 