Hold On
Hold On Luke 8.15
Am I gripped by fear or gripped by God?
“And the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.” Luke 8:15
The words “hold it fast” are from Strong’s #2722 katecho: to hold down, to hold fast; a strengthened form of “echo” #2192 Which is used in Luke 19:20
“Master behold your mina (100 shekels), which I kept put away in a handkerchief for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.” Luke 19:20-21
In the parable of the Pounds the nobleman have ten of his slaves 100 shekels each and asked them to “do business” or “trade” until he came back. The first servant grew the profit by ten and was given authority over ten cities, the second by five. Another of the servants kept the 100 shekels in a handkerchief: soudarion: #4676 a sweat cloth or towel, for wiping the perspiration from the face or binding the face of a corpse)!!!; How strongly we guard and try to protect ourselves when we are afraid! And what is the effect of fear? In our immobilizing fear, we avoid the vigorous actions of faith that may cause a “spiritual sweat,” and we use what is meant for life, for death.
May we hear the Word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. May we hold on to the Word, the seed of Life giving potential in the Gospel, with great confidence and tenacity as we let its influence grow abundant fruitage. “…it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13
It is the roots that hold the seed fast in the soil of the heart. May the root system of the Life Giving power of the Gospel Truth of God through Christ be stronger than the grip of fear!
One important question at the convention we just attended was: Do I have the Truth?
And another important question: Does the Truth have me?
Am I gripped by fear or gripped by God?
“And the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.” Luke 8:15
The words “hold it fast” are from Strong’s #2722 katecho: to hold down, to hold fast; a strengthened form of “echo” #2192 Which is used in Luke 19:20
“Master behold your mina (100 shekels), which I kept put away in a handkerchief for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.” Luke 19:20-21
In the parable of the Pounds the nobleman have ten of his slaves 100 shekels each and asked them to “do business” or “trade” until he came back. The first servant grew the profit by ten and was given authority over ten cities, the second by five. Another of the servants kept the 100 shekels in a handkerchief: soudarion: #4676 a sweat cloth or towel, for wiping the perspiration from the face or binding the face of a corpse)!!!; How strongly we guard and try to protect ourselves when we are afraid! And what is the effect of fear? In our immobilizing fear, we avoid the vigorous actions of faith that may cause a “spiritual sweat,” and we use what is meant for life, for death.
May we hear the Word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. May we hold on to the Word, the seed of Life giving potential in the Gospel, with great confidence and tenacity as we let its influence grow abundant fruitage. “…it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13
It is the roots that hold the seed fast in the soil of the heart. May the root system of the Life Giving power of the Gospel Truth of God through Christ be stronger than the grip of fear!
One important question at the convention we just attended was: Do I have the Truth?
And another important question: Does the Truth have me?
