Dull, Calloused and Hardened

Daily Scripture Threshing for Thursday, April 28, 2022

Today Text: Matthew 13:7-22

Key Verse: Matthew 13:15 (KJV): “For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.”

The parable of the Sower remains one of the clearest explanation of why the preaching of the gospel meets with failure with some people, and success with others. The reason we have same seed, the same sower, the same season, but different success; Jesus says, is the soil. Our hearts and attitudes form the type of soil we are. The same word of eternal life that proclaims the simplicity of God’s kingdom, which some hear and are broken is the same word heard by some others, that receive them with the fiercest resistance or failure.

Our Lord tells us why the above is so: The seed fails, says He, because of the nature of the soil. Whether already a believer, or still wallowing in sin, a person can allow the soil of his heart to become impervious, shallow, dirty, hardened and unbroken by reason of their hearts and attitude. This is often the condition of a church freak, who is religious, goes to church, reads the Bible and possibly ministers to others, but who has unconsciously slided into a condition that keeps the Word of God entirely outside so that it no longer enters his understanding.

Do not be that man. And don’t be a shallow hearer of God’s word. Those who do these things are described by our Lord as dull, calloused and hardened hearted in the biblical narrative, and His explanation. These positions should expectedly belong to those who are lost, not to a believer. Unfortunately, it has found its way into the church. Therefore, let us beware of what type of soil we are. And, it is not enough to put aside distracting thoughts; but we must cut down every thorn that kills the seed of God’s word in us.

Quote for the Day: “No one nurtures a heart stuffed with worldly ambitions, greed for riches, and undue lusts and hope for the right fruit of godliness.” (Simon Olatunji)

Prayer: Dear Lord, please rid my heart of every obstacle. Make my heart a suitable soil to nurture and yield desire and abiding fruits — in Jesus’ name. Amen.

With all my love and prayer,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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[Daily Scripture Threshing is a devotional guide of The House of Prayer Evangel Church USA distributed for free use by individuals, small groups, families, and Christian churches]

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