Reading
SAA Notes
Herod (different from the king who met the wise men) sought to overcome Jesus, by persecuting the church. His subsequent horrible death was a vindication of the Gospel. Jesus is greater than the Herods of this world. Herod’s persecution died with him. Christ increased!
SJA Notes
* Holy God, Your word is true. Please show us truth today.
“But the word of God increased and multiplied.”
In the midst of great persecution, even to death, we see God’s word at work.
Increase and Multiplication.
How can a word increase? How can a word multiply?
God’s Spirit plants the seed, His word, in us the soil.
God’s Spirit writes His word on our hearts, growing it within us.
There is INCREASE when God’s word is in us, consumed by us, dwelt on and wrestled with, prayed over and put into practice.
God’s word does not return empty, it accomplishes God’s desire and achieves the purpose He sends it with.
God’s word in the good news of Jesus, all of it, and we are called to tell it to the nations!
God’s word in us produces fruit, the good soil causing thirty, sixty, a hundred-fold.
There is MULTIPLICATION when God’s word is proclaimed by us, preached from our pulpits, spoken of in our conversations, held up by us in our every-day lives – God’s word _goes out_ from us, the Holy Spirit multiplies it.
May the word of God increase and multiply in and around us today and onwards!
* God Above,
Thank You for planting Your word within us, may it be a seed in the good soil, bearing forth fruit.
Mark us as a faithful people Lord God, going about with Your word on our hearts – May we see increase and multiplication of Your word Lord!
Amen.