It Is WrittenSample

Keeping a Humble Heart

By Robert Morris

Yesterday, we talked about the parable of the sower, and we learned the best way for the Word of God to bear fruit in our hearts is to maintain good ground. But how do we do that, exactly?

Let’s look at Matthew 13:10–15, which comes after Jesus finishes telling the parable of the sower. “And the disciples came and said to Him, ‘Why do You speak to them in parables?’ He answered and said to them, ‘Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given … and in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull.’” Notice Jesus uses the word “grown.” They might not have started out dull, but they grew dull over time. What does that mean? Well, Jesus explains to the disciples that they don’t understand His parables because they didn’t protect their hearts, but instead allowed them to become hardened.

One of the best ways you can protect your heart is by keeping it humble. Isaiah 57:15 says, “For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’” Do you know what He’s saying here? He’s saying, if you humble yourself, I will revive your heart. As long as you keep your heart humble, I’ll keep it in good ground.

What will happen if we don’t humble our hearts? We’ll become like the Pharisees. Because they thought they knew everything about God, they couldn’t learn anything new. They had pride in their hearts instead of humility.

Daniel 10:12 shows us a perfect example of a humble heart: “Then He said to me, ‘Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard.’” God heard Daniel’s prayer because he had a humble heart. The interesting thing about the kingdom of God is that in order to go up, you must go down. The more you humble yourself, the greater you’ll be in the kingdom. God says He will exalt those who humble themselves, and with a humble heart, the Word of God will bear fruit.

How is your heart today? Take some time to humble yourself before the Lord and ask Him to remove any pride in your heart.

Prayer

Father, thank You that you have made a way for us to receive and understand Your Word. Please show me the areas in my heart that aren’t humble and give me grace so I can humble them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Memory Verse

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8