Topic: DEVOTE YOURSELF TO THE WORD – Bishop Mike Okonkwo Devotional 17 April 2021 [The Redeemed Evangelical Mission]
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DEVOTE YOURSELF TO THE WORD
“But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty and some a hundred.”
Mark 4:20 NKJV
Today, I encourage you to hold fast to that which you have received. Do not let go of the Word till your desires manifest. Jesus gave us a parable in Mark 4 about the sower who went out to sow some seeds – the seed is the Word of God. Some of the seeds fell on the wayside, some on stony ground and some fell on thorns. All of these did not bear any fruit but thank God the story did not end there. Some fell on a good ground and there were fruits to show for it.
We understand the importance of planting on a good land. If you ask any farmer, he will tell you that planting the seed is just the beginning of the process. Cultivation has to take place before there can be a harvest. To “cultivate” means “to prepare and work on in order to raise crops; to develop or improve.” The definition I particularly like says, “To devote oneself to.” Did you see that? You must be devoted to that seed if you want it to bear fruits. The same thing goes for the Word of God. Devotion is a requirement! You can’t afford to just go about things anyhow and expect a bountiful harvest. No! You must stick with the Word devotedly.
Beloved, you have a responsibility to sustain the rich deposits of God’s Word that have been made into your life. And if we must sustain all that God has released, then we must be devoted to it. The adversary is not going to play dead and watch you succeed. He is going to come at you to test to see if you really know and believe all that you have received. The Bible says that he walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8 KJV). My prayer is that he will not see you in Jesus name.
Further Reading: Mark 4:1-20
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- 2 Samuel 1-2; Evening- Luke 14:1-24
