A Life of Listening, Keeping, and Being Patient(Luke 8:9-18)

Title: A Life of Listening, Keeping, and Being Patient
Text: Luke 8:9-18

There is an old Korean saying:
“When things go well, it’s because of me. When things go wrong, it’s because of my ancestors.”
This also happens in our lives now.
We can say, “If there is no fruit, it’s God’s fault. If there is fruit, it’s because of me.”

Today’s passage is the parable of the farmer who sows seeds.
This is a very important message.
Jesus told this message secretly to His disciples.
He said He hides it from others but explains it to them.
Maybe that’s why smart and proud people could not understand Jesus’ words.

Listening to the Word is not easy.
It means we must not listen carelessly.
If we don’t really want to listen, we won’t hear or understand.

This parable is about the people who hear God’s Word.
There are four kinds: the path, the rocky ground, the thorny ground, and the good soil.

The path (verse 12):
Jesus said the devil comes and takes away the Word.
Satan makes people forget the Word.
It does not stay in the heart.
The seed is not covered with soil.
So birds come and eat it.
It disappears and is never remembered again.

People may love the Word, but when they receive it, they don’t take care of it.
They treat it without respect.
They just let the bird eat it.
We should ask: Have I ever treated God’s Word like that?

The rocky ground (verse 13):
These people believe for a short time.
But when testing comes, they fall away.
When the sun shines, the plant dries up because it has no roots.
If the Word has no deep roots, it dies.
We need to apply the Word in daily life.
If there is no deep practice or action, we lose the Word easily.

To do this, we need time to think, meditate, and pray.
Our personal effort is important, but also our environment and society.
That’s why the third example is given.

The thorny ground (verse 14):
These people grow well, but do not give fruit.
They are worried about the world.
They care too much about money and pleasure.
This is about culture and values.
They still don’t have a new way of thinking.
Other people hurt them easily.
Even small things become painful.

We may get hurt by people who follow the world’s way.
They compare us and ignore us.
In a world where money is power, people may look down on you if you don’t have it.
Still, what should we do?

The good soil (verse 15):
Jesus said we must listen, keep, and be patient.
We can match them like this:

• Listening = the path
• Keeping = the rocky ground
• Patience = the thorny ground

The good soil is not a perfect place without problems.
It also needs the process of listening, keeping, and being patient.

Jesus showed us the three big challenges to bear fruit.
If we fail even one, we won’t see fruit.
We must overcome all three.

Some people may ask a strange question:
“Isn’t it the farmer’s fault? Shouldn’t he plant the seeds only in good soil?”

But our hearts are not fixed.
People’s attitudes change.
So this question is not wise.

Many people talk about good or bad seeds.
They don’t check their ears or hearts.
They think the Word must be good and blame the farmer.
But Jesus said the result depends on the listener.
We must be careful how we listen.

The heart must be good soil.
The listener must be careful.
Who speaks is not important.
Even if the farmer plants badly, it doesn’t matter.
What matters is the listener’s heart.

The farmer planted seeds everywhere, even in bad places.
He is a fair farmer.
Even if our hearts are not good, God gives us a chance.
But sometimes, we just let the Word pass by, like seeds on the path.
Even if the Word is important… we miss it.

Sometimes we are like the rocky ground.
We know the Word is precious.
We have emotional experiences.
But we don’t let the Word grow deep.

We want the Word and go to many meetings,
but we don’t digest it or live it out.
We just say, “Wow! That was amazing!”
But we don’t try to apply it to our lives.

Even quiet times (QT) can become like this.
We just read and finish quickly.
But we need to go deeper.

We might go to a revival meeting and feel blessed.
But that’s not all we need.

We need time to meditate.
We need time to think.
We need to ask, “Is this Word really true?”
“Can this Word save me and others?”

We can read books, and listen to others’ thoughts.
If we don’t have our own thoughts, we cannot compare.
If we have our own understanding, we can have strong faith.

Even as we live like this, we may face pain.
Thorns may hurt us.
But we must not stop there.
We must not let it become a wound.
We need patience.
If we are patient, we become stronger.
We can be more flexible.
We become wise like a snake and avoid danger.

Then, in the end, we will overcome the world and bear fruit.

I bless you to live a life full of listening, keeping, and being patient.
Amen.