Good Morning Friends,
Some say ancient people could not perceive blue until language named it. Whether or not that is true, it reminds us that we often do not see until we desire to see. Today’s devotional invites us to perceive Jesus’ life and teaching with fresh eyes. Unless we read with openness to the Spirit, the words will remain as forgettable as sermons long past. So we ask: How Do We Hear, Share, and Act Upon the Word Manifested in the Spirit?
Scripture Summaries:
Exodus 19:1–20 Israel arrives at Sinai, where God descends in cloud, fire, thunder, and trembling earth so the people may hear His voice and trust Moses. God calls them to prepare themselves, and Moses ascends the mountain to meet the Lord.
Jeremiah 2:1–13 God recalls Israel’s early devotion but laments how they turned from Him to “worthless things.” Though God led them through wilderness and into a fruitful land, they abandoned the “fountain of living water” and chose cracked cisterns that hold none.
Matthew 13:10–17 Jesus explains that parables reveal truth to those whose hearts are open but remain hidden from those who refuse to see or hear. Many longed for such revelation, but only those who desire God perceive it.
Message: Our experiences with God create a resonance. Some respond with understanding and action, others do not. Jesus taught through everyday images because truth becomes clearer when it connects to lived experience. Parables, like life itself, reveal God’s truth to those willing to receive it.Yet Jesus also acknowledges that some will hear but never understand, see but never perceive. Understanding is not merely intellectual; it is the fruit of a heart committed to walking with God. If we do not desire God, even a thousand sermons or devotions will leave us unchanged. But when we listen with an attentive spirit, the Holy Spirit uses both Scripture and life’s experiences to open our eyes.
And So, our task is simple but demanding: to listen, to respond, and to ask what obedience looks like today. Truth is revealed to those who follow Christ, and though few responded to Jesus in His own time, He kept sowing seeds—and so must we.
Pray that God helps us see and hear. Pray for creativity in us to be awakened by the Spirit. Pray to recognize the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer in the parables of our lives. Pray for commitment, submission, and obedience. Pray to discern what Scripture asks us to change. Pray to trust that God can fulfill His purposes in us as we follow Jesus. Pray with hearts that listen and believe God loves us.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 