SCRIPTURE: Acts 17
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. [Luke 8:15]
In Acts 17 we see the message being spread like seed, producing mixed results.
Just as Jesus described, some receive it and some do not.
One thing for sure, the message produces strong reactions.
Contrast the noble character of the Bereans with the jealous response of the Jews.

A noble heart is the key to a right response before God.
An open, humble, genuine, eager heart.
A heart that longs to know the truth, not just a heart that wants easy or self-serving answers.
A heart that is honest enough to admit its need for help, for God, for truth.
A heart that seeks, wrestles and determines to find the truth, even if it hurts.
Those who hunger, thirst, ask, seek and knock – find what they are looking for.

These stories remind us that we should not be surprised when people reject the message.
But they also remind us that we can be confident that the message will gain a following, people will believe it.
It is not the strength of our presentation, but the power of God through us and the quality of the heart of our audience.
This is a reminder to me too, that on Sunday mornings when I ‘preach’ there will be a variety of responses.
As Jesus says, some lose it right away (Satan steals it away); some receive it weakly, but there are no roots; some receive it strongly, but the cares of this world choke the life out of their faith; and others will receive it.

Even in non-religious settings (like universities, coffee shops, pubs, hockey locker rooms), the message can be spread like seed, and will have a result.
It may or may not be large numbers, but there will be a result, a crop.
Paul ties in to the context in Athens to speak the message of Jesus to the ‘thinkers’ at the Areopagus.
And the Lord adds to the number of those who respond.

This words challenge me to (1) speak boldly (2) trust the Lord for the results, and (3) have a noble heart, eager to know God’s truth.
May I be as noble as the Bereans in receiving the message, and as confident as Paul in sharing it with others.

PRAYER:
Lord, You are real, alive and true. My message is not powerful because I can share it so well, but because You back it up. Make me bold, make me noble!