Lord, help me to understand your word

The seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it.

For nearly a century, Sherlock Holmes has been renowned for his extraordinary powers of deduction. In the story “A Scandal in Bohemia,” we see what sets him apart.  At one point, Holmes asks Watson how many stairs there are on the way up to his flat.  Watson can not tell him, though he has been up and down the staircase hundreds of times.  Holmes replies, “You see, Watson, but you do not observe.”

Jesus’ parable of the sower teaches us a similar lesson.  Just as there is a difference between seeing and observing, there is a difference between hearing and understanding.  The parable makes it plain that God gives everyone the opportunity to hear his word, but not everyone hears it in the same way.  Some people take it to heart, while others do not, and that makes a difference in the fruit the word bears in their lives.  Those who listen can “understand” the word in their hearts, and those who merely “hear” remain confused and vulnerable.

That kind of understanding is not something we come by naturally, however.  It comes to us through the power of the Holy Spirit.

So when you read a Scripture passage, ask the Holy Spirit to open it up for you.  Do not breeze through it.  Let it sink in—even if you have to spend several minutes on a single phrase.  You might read it aloud a couple of times or visualize the scene.  Then ask the Spirit what he wants to show you about the passage.

Then reflect for a few minutes.  First, what part of the reading resonates with you the most?  You may want to underline it or write it down in a journal.  Second, what does that particular passage say to you?  If you have a sense that God loves you or if you are filled with hope about a difficult situation, that may be the Holy Spirit!

The Spirit is so wise—much more so than Sherlock Holmes!  Let him guide you through the word and help you to live it.

“Lord, help me to understand your word, not just with my head, but with my heart. And help me put it into practice.”

word among us