Pam Padgett ... teacher
In the word that God spoke through the prophet Hosea to the children of
Israel, He spoke of them turning from heeding Him ...
Hosea 4:10 For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the Lord.
As I read this I thought of temptations and distractions that come which try to pull us from truly
heeding God, paying attention to HIS word brought to our attention by
the Holy Spirit and keeping that word. We might become busy and not spend
time allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us and lead us in conforming our
lives and our thinking to that word. It takes discipline to quietly
sit and be taught by the Holy Spirit, taking heed to the word of God so
that we can do that word and continue to do it.
heed - pay attention to, take notice of, keep, protect, attend to, observe, preserve, regard
I was reminded of when Jesus went to the home of Martha and how she was
busy serving, doing what would seem like good things. But
her sister Mary was not rushing about. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus,
hearing HIS word, being taught by HIM. Jesus said that Martha was
troubled about many things, but only one thing was needful, which Mary
had chosen ...
Luke 10:38 Now it came to pass, as they
went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named
Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary,
which also sat at Jesus feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was
cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou
not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore
that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha,
Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one
thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not
be taken away from her.
Jesus also gave the parable of the sower who sowed seed, the
word of God, on various types of ground. Some hear the word but don't
turn to God to receive understanding of the word, and it is taken from
them by the devil ...
Matthew 13:18 Hear ye therefore the parable
of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and
understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that
which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way
side.
Some don't let the word become rooted in their hearts by
protecting and nurturing that word in their lives, thinking about that
word and seeking to do that word as led by the Holy Spirit ...
Matthew 13:20
But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that
heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not
root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or
persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Some pay more attention to things of this world than to the word of God ...
Matthew 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he
that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness
of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
But some hear and allow the Holy Spirit to work in their lives by that word and are conformed to it, continuing in that word and bringing forth according to the will and power of God ...
Matthew 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is
he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth
fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
What God speaks to us by His Spirit is what we should heed ... pay attention to, protect and nourish in our hearts, and do.