The Living Word of God
- Richard Selke
- Jun 3
- 7 min read
Updated: Jun 24
June 4, 2025
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I was attending a conference at a retreat center in the Texas hill country and sharing a room with three other men. One night, my roommates kept me awake with a diverse symphony of snoring. I may have unknowingly contributed to the noise while I slept, but while I was awake, I heard snoring that ranged from nearly unbearable to almost harmonious. After being awake for some time and not being able to fall back to sleep, I got up, grabbed an article I’d brought with me, and went outside to read under one of the camp lights.
I had been wanting to read the article for some time. It was about six pages long. Almost immediately, I began to highlight phrases. Then, on about the third page, I found some phrases that were already highlighted, with some notes in the margins – in my handwriting! I’d already read the article! Somehow, the first time I read it – whenever that was – I hadn’t noticed anything interesting enough in the first three pages to highlight. And yet, this time around, I hung on almost every word from the first sentence on.
How can an article that I had seemingly dismissed in the past be so interesting on that particular night?
The Bible has been described as a living document. I find this to be true in the sense that when I have reread the same scripture at different times in my life, the same words have spoken to me differently. The Bible is not a book to be read only once and then checked off of our "To Do" lists. It is meant to be read, and reread and referred to often.
In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23), Jesus uses the analogy of a “farmer,” “seed” and “soil” to describe His (the “Farmer”) communication of His Word (the “seed”) to us (the “soil.”) He talks about four individuals who “hear the message about the kingdom” and the conditions of their hearts that keep them from fully understanding:
“Then he [Jesus] told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.’” Matthew 13:3-9, NIV
Jesus goes on to explain His parable:
“’Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.’” Matthew 13:18-23, NIV
As “soil,” we are dust. Our bodies are composed of minerals from the earth which have existed since creation. We literally are stardust. Because God has made us out of materials that He created and breathed into us the breath of life, we are especially receptive to receiving from Him the eternal message of His Kingdom.
Although Jesus is talking about four different people, His parable could be applied to the spiritual seasons in the life of any person. I know I have certainly experienced more than one of these seasons. Perhaps you have too. And perhaps so have those with whom we have the opportuntity to share our faith.
Jesus covers many of the reasons that someone may hear the message about the kingdom of God and yet not understand.
There was a time in my life when I wasn’t even conscious that the “seed” had even fallen on me. Once I came to know God well enough to be sensitive to His grace and presence, I began to recall encounters with Him, which, at the time they happened, made no significant impression – or so it seemed. Just like my article that night at the conference.
There are those who choose not to “hear” because, if they did “understand,” their conscience might tell them that change was in order; and they have concluded, therefore, that it is better to not “understand,” than to change.
Many folks I know raise intellectual barriers to their understanding. They say, “That’s just not possible. It doesn’t make sense.” Their misconceptions and absolute certainties can impede their pursuit of greater knowledge and limit their understanding of God’s truth.
In our culture, increasing religious persecution can be enough to discourage some. Social pressure can be strong and severe and prevent people from publicly declaring their belief in Jesus Christ.
Sometimes, when we are lonely or dealing with loss, we can become emotionally tapped out and quick to entertain new “seed.” At such times, a person can be open to religious experience. Sometimes, because the “soil” may be lacking in depth, matters of faith can either quickly fade away or become a lifetime of joy in Christ Jesus.
There is no age at which we are immune to distractions which can actually be good things; however, that which detracts us from the best becomes, by that very fact, a “thorn” which can choke out the “seed” of the Kingdom. We must get our priorities straight. I love Susan – but I love Jesus first. She knows it, and He knows it. And the more love I have for Him, the more love I have for her.
I believe that each one of us wants to be “good soil … someone who hears the word and understands it.” Thank God that Jesus Christ holds out hope for my “soil” and for yours. We are capable, he says, of bringing forth crops, “in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
I have no idea which spiritual season you are in right now. I do want you to know that all you have to do, if you haven’t already, is to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Jesus died and conquered death for you so that your sins are forgiven and so that you have eternal life with Him. I am confident that the Holy Spirit is at work in your life, even though you may not know it. Believe in Jesus and His Holy Spirit will take it from there.
The Parable of the Sower is about me, you and all of those people out there who need to “hear” God’s word, “understand” it and bear fruit. But first they need to hear the Good News of salvation through belief in Jesus Christ. And they need to hear it from us. We are all children of God, a holy priesthood, and Jesus calls each one of us to be His ambassador.
If you are not doing so already, I recommend that you begin reading the Bible and read it continually for the rest of your life. I have found that the One Year series is helpful in that it includes a daily reading from the Psalms, Proverbs, Old Testament and New Testament and the entire Bible can be completed in one year. The Chronological One Year Bible lays out the events of the Story of God and His people in the chronological order in which they are believed to have occurred.
John Wesley, English cleric, theologian and evangelist, said, “I want to know one thing, the way to heaven – how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way: for this very end he came from heaven. He has written it down in a book. O give me that book!”
That book folks is the Bible – the living Word of God.
REMEMBER & BELIEVE
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
In the meantime, your Bible is the living Word of God.
If you don't have one, get one. Read it!
QUESTIONS
Which spiritual season are you in right now? Can you look back on your life and see God’s presence even when you didn’t see it then? Do you feel comfortable sharing your stories about God’s presence, love, mercy and grace in your life with others?
PRAYER
Lord God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thank You for giving us the gift of Your Word – living, active and able to speak directly into our hearts and lives across time and seasons. Thank You for not leaving us to wander alone, but for planting seeds of truth and grace throughout our lives. Prepare the soil of our hearts. Remove the thorns of distraction, the rocky ground of pride and the hard path of resistance. Let Your Word take deep root in us. Help us to hear it, understand it and live it. Speak through Your Holy Scriptures each time we read. Make the familiar fresh, the difficult clear and help us remember that which should never be forgotten. Let Your truth shape us and strengthen us and bear fruit in our lives – for Your glory. Give us courage to share with others our witness of Your presence, love, mercy and grace in our lives. Help us to be ambassadors of Your love and encouragers to those still searching and may Your Word be a light to others.
Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil and the evil one. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24, ESV
God bless you!
Richard
Christ Worshipper | Disciple Maker | Hope Giver
Welcome to In the Meantime. I'm glad you're here! We are living in the time between Christ's ascension into heaven and His promised return to earth. In the Meantime is a collection of stories about God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and His presence, love, mercy and grace in my life. In the Meantime, Jesus is Lord! Hallelujah!
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