“Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a Sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up, they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” Matthew 13:3-8 

Yesterday, we established that the only true source of faith is the Word of God. God does what He says He will do, not what we want or expect Him to do. Thus, to have a genuine faith that bears fruit, we need to hear what God says, both the generic promises that apply to all His children and the individual ones that are unique to each person. But after hearing the word of God, what’s next? You might ask. Obedience is next. As we read in the parable of the Sower, the same seed (word of God) may or may not bear fruit depending on the soil (heart) on which it falls. Though we may listen to the word of God Sunday after Sunday, our faith will never grow to bear fruit if we do not have receiving, understanding and obedient hearts to God’s word. In Matthew 13:18-23, the parable is explained, and we realize that the heart that bears fruit is the one that hears the word of God, understands it, grows roots in it and endures through persecution, and is not choked or distracted by the cares of this world or its riches. If not coupled with obedience, the word of God will not bear any fruit in our lives, not because there is a problem with the seed – as it is complete and carrying all that is required to bear fruit- but rather with the soil. Like James said (James 1:22), we should not only be hearers of the Word, but doers, otherwise we are deceiving ourselves and our faith will never bear the fruit it was purposed to bear. 

“Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7: 24:27 

Practicing obedience in faith is not a one-time thing or a singular event, rather, it a lifestyle, a journey, a practice at which we get better as we persevere in it. The bible says, “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:38-39 

How do we make faith our lifestyle? Let’s meet here again tomorrow to discuss this! 

Prayer: 

Father, grant me the faith to always act in obedience to Your will and help me know my faith comes from You. In times of tribulation, may my faith in You not be shaken nor fail, but may I remain obedient and faithful till the end, even amid the storm. I seek to hold unto this unwavering faith of Yours forever and ever. God, give me the grace to obey without hesitation when I hear Your word, and strengthen my faith daily. In Jesus name, Amen!