{"id":35751,"date":"2023-09-16T03:30:19","date_gmt":"2023-09-16T10:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=35751"},"modified":"2023-09-15T15:58:02","modified_gmt":"2023-09-15T22:58:02","slug":"september-16-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2023\/09\/16\/september-16-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"September 16, 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div><\/div><\/div>

The Footpath<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cLet the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.\u201d<\/em> Proverbs 1:5 ESV<\/p>\n

\u201cTruth will always be truth, regardless of lack of understanding, disbelief, or ignorance.\u201d (W. Clement Stone).<\/p>\n

What we perceive truth to be can depend upon our upbringing, our environment, our culture, or what we think is fair. Children also may interpret truth in many ways, but truth, especially God\u2019s truth, is absolute. The meaning of truth<\/strong> described in the dictionary reads: the true or actual state of a matter, conformity with fact or reality.<\/em> To understand<\/strong> means to perceive the meaning of; grasp the idea or the significance of, the importance; to learn to hear. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cListen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them\u201d<\/em> (Matthew 13:4-5 NLT). Then Jesus explains His parable in verse 19: \u201cThe seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don\u2019t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Have you ever shared the truth of God\u2019s Word with someone who you thought was engaged in the conversation and sincere in listening, when later you find that they really didn\u2019t hear or understand you? It\u2019s amazing to me how quickly our words can be snatched away.<\/p>\n

How much more important is the true message of the Kingdom of God. We may hear in the physical sense, but do we hear the Word of God so that we truly understand what He is telling us? Are we guarding our hearts so we don\u2019t get distracted by the cares of this world, or get hardened by continual sin or lack of repentance, pain, anger or bitterness that we haven\u2019t yet faced, or pride that we haven\u2019t yet dealt with? These things can slowly affect our conscience by making it difficult to distinguish between right and wrong. I believe that society today encourages us to be accepting of certain ideas and concepts that are against God\u2019s Word\u2014the truth.<\/p>\n

God\u2019s truth will always be absolute. It\u2019s up to us as individuals to \u201chear.\u201d It\u2019s up to us to keep watch over our hearts. It\u2019s up to us to diligently seek and share the absolute truth of God\u2019s Word.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy Words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge.\u201d<\/em> (Proverbs 8:9 NLT).<\/p>\n

Lord, we thank You for Your Word. Help us to realize the importance of hearing what You are telling us. We ask for understanding for those who have heard Your message and yet have not made a solid choice to accept Your truth and to follow You. We acknowledge that You are the only Way, the Truth, and the Life. In Jesus\u2019 Name. Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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