Rays of Hope ~ Tim Stockton
Those in the faith world have heard from the moment of their conversion to the faith of Christ that the enemy is out to “steal, kill, and destroy.” In the parable of the sower Jesus tells of how the Word can be sown in someone’s heart, but the “wicked one” will come and try to “snatch away” (or steal) what was sown in one’s heart.
There are now many ways to hear the word of God. The most important is to read it for yourself and then to hear it preached and taught, preferably in person within a church setting of your choice. Once you begin to hear and learn the Word and hide it within your heart you will know what is the right and wrong wills we have a choice to do.
A reason we “hide” the word of God in our hearts is so that it cannot be stolen. As Jesus taught that the wicked one will come to snatch it away. If we have valuables often we will hide and lock them away to make it more difficult if someone were to break in and try to steal our valuables. Likewise, the Word of God is a treasure of wisdom and love that has the power to transform us to be more like Christ.
The enemy is out to steal all he can to keep this from happening. In ancient times the act of branding cattle started as a sign that what was branded belonged to that particular person. It was less likely once cattle was branded that a thief would steal it because there was evidence of who owned it. It belonged to the one who had put their seal upon it. The Bible teaches that those who believe upon Christ have been sealed. Another translation of being sealed is being branded.
The enemy will at times usually in our weakest and more vulnerable moments try to sneak in to steal the Word and our joy from us. We just have to remember that we have been sealed and know who we belong to. The ending to the parable of the sower explains that the one who doesn’t have the word snatched away, is one who hears and understands the Word and bears and produces fruit as evidence.
TRS
5-1-23
Rays of Hope 