What Jesus Did! 'A Story for the Crowd' — Luke 8:4

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him:...
— Luke 8:4 NLT

Key Thought

Jesus used stories to help drive home his message, to plant seeds to help people remember divine truths, and to help give his hearers insights. Stories provide a potent part of the Master's ministry. Stories are powerful and stick in our hearts. Much of the Bible was written in the language of a story, including a huge portion of the New Testament with the four gospels telling the story of Jesus' earthly ministry and with the book of Acts telling the story of the Spirit's ministry through the early church. One of the great ways for you to gain a firm grasp of the New Testament, or even the whole Bible, is to keep a notebook with a list of the Bible's stories in it, the references where they can be found, and a one sentence summary of the lesson each story teaches. Since Jesus used stories to communicate God's truth, let's learn those stories and let them come to life in us!

Today's Prayer

Father, thank you that the Bible tells the story of your love and grace. Thank you that Jesus used stories to communicate many of your truths. Please help me to learn these stories and have the Holy Spirit open my mind and heart to understand and apply them to my life. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

1 Related Resource by Heartlight

Don't Let These Truths Elude You!
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Follower, I love to tell stories from everyday life and connect them to heavenly truths. There is a reason for that. You can remember stories..."

Illustration

Illustration of Luke 8:4 NLT — One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him:...

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'Praise God in the Highest!' (Mk. 11:9-10)
"Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, "Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the..."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'I Am Sending You!' (Jn. 20:21-22)
"Again [Jesus] said, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you." Then he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.""
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: John 15:4
"How did you begin to bear fruit? It was when you came to Jesus and cast yourselves on his great atonement, and rested on his finished righteousness......"
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Better!'
"Dear Child of the Father, Today you begin a short journey through the wonderful "word of exhortation" (Hebrews 13:22) you call the book of Hebrews......"

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!