North Bend Church of Christ - Discussion Forum: Refuse to Quit by Norm Russell

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Refuse to Quit by Norm Russell

Cheryl Owens
#1

Posted on 09/03/2011 06:52

Member

Posts: 269
Joined: 08/08/2011 06:05

Jesus taught His disciples in parables. One such parable is the teaching about a sower who went out to sow. I suppose that particular parable is one of Jesus most well known. It has been preached and taught by nearly everyone who sets out to instruct in Jesus' teachings. It is found in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8.

The four soils mentioned represent the hearts of people. There was the hard ground where the seed could not penetrate. The rocky ground was to shallow for the seed to gain root and grow. The soil with the thorns would not allow the seed room to grow. The good soil is where the seed found room and depth to grow and produced a good crop.

Matthew and Mark tell us that the good soil produced a bumper crop. They tell us that the soil brought forth thirty, sixty and even a hundred times what was sown. Luke adds a word that gives us some new information. He wrote, "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.

The word "persevering" means that there was resistance to the seed (which is the word of God, Luke 8:11) growing. However, the individual in whose heart it was sown refused to allow things to interfere with God doing His work in his life. One could suppose that when the message of Jesus is heard that Satan would do all that was possible to see that there would be no positive response to it. He would cast up things such as doubts--Doubts about Jesus, about God, about the benefits of following Christ. Maybe he would even show how following Christ has its difficulties such as dying to self, to the world, and to all that the world offers. He could even show the possibility of persecution which was certainly evident in the early years of the movement.

All of these would certainly have their effect, but there are some things that disciples fight against that are more subtle. Things such as discouragement, exhaustion, temptation, various trials that test our faith. All these and more can and will make it difficult to remain faithful. But notice again Luke's words, "...and by persevering produce a crop." Persevering comes from a determination not to quit, a faith that allows Jesus to work in us to make our faith stronger and a willingness to surrender even the smallest of challenges to God.

We will be fruitful for the Savior if we persevere. Hang in there and refuse to quit and in the end you will have produced a bumper crop for the Lord.

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Refuse to Quit by Norm Russell
Cheryl Owens	#1 Posted on 09/03/2011 06:52
Member Posts: 269 Joined: 08/08/2011 06:05	Jesus taught His disciples in parables. One such parable is the teaching about a sower who went out to sow. I suppose that particular parable is one of Jesus most well known. It has been preached and taught by nearly everyone who sets out to instruct in Jesus' teachings. It is found in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8. The four soils mentioned represent the hearts of people. There was the hard ground where the seed could not penetrate. The rocky ground was to shallow for the seed to gain root and grow. The soil with the thorns would not allow the seed room to grow. The good soil is where the seed found room and depth to grow and produced a good crop. Matthew and Mark tell us that the good soil produced a bumper crop. They tell us that the soil brought forth thirty, sixty and even a hundred times what was sown. Luke adds a word that gives us some new information. He wrote, "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. The word "persevering" means that there was resistance to the seed (which is the word of God, Luke 8:11) growing. However, the individual in whose heart it was sown refused to allow things to interfere with God doing His work in his life. One could suppose that when the message of Jesus is heard that Satan would do all that was possible to see that there would be no positive response to it. He would cast up things such as doubts--Doubts about Jesus, about God, about the benefits of following Christ. Maybe he would even show how following Christ has its difficulties such as dying to self, to the world, and to all that the world offers. He could even show the possibility of persecution which was certainly evident in the early years of the movement. All of these would certainly have their effect, but there are some things that disciples fight against that are more subtle. Things such as discouragement, exhaustion, temptation, various trials that test our faith. All these and more can and will make it difficult to remain faithful. But notice again Luke's words, "...and by persevering produce a crop." Persevering comes from a determination not to quit, a faith that allows Jesus to work in us to make our faith stronger and a willingness to surrender even the smallest of challenges to God. We will be fruitful for the Savior if we persevere. Hang in there and refuse to quit and in the end you will have produced a bumper crop for the Lord.