My friend, God is sending you blessings from Heaven today. He has already launched them toward you. The question is: Will you catch them?
To live a powerful life in God, you must CATCH and HOLD FAST TO the things God sends you.
The apostle John tells us about how Jesus prayed to God near the end of His earthly ministry. As Jesus talked to His Father, He said, “For I have given to them the words which you have given Me; and they have received them” (John 17:8). In other words, Jesus is saying that the disciples “caught” the Father’s words and didn’t let them slip.
The Psalmist stated, “Your word I have hidden in my heart …” (Psalm 119:11a). And over and over, Jesus said to the seven churches in Revelation: “He who has an ear, let him hear.” In other words, Jesus is giving us a “heads up” to catch something that He is saying or that He is about to say.
Speaking of “heads up,” the game of baseball contains a perfect picture of what I’m talking about.
In baseball, as my husband has taught me over the past 26 years, when a fly ball is hit to the outfield, someone says, “heads up.” It is a warning to the people in the stands to be aware and to try to catch the ball.
Picture this with me–especially you baseball fans:
It is the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs.
The home team is behind by one run.
The designated hitter is up to bat and has three balls and two strikes against him.
Then, the pitch he has been waiting for comes.
He slugs it high and long to the outfield.
The outfielder is running hard to the warning track.
Just before the ball clears the fence, he jumps high and “catches” the ball, winning the game for the visitors!
That’s the perfect picture of how we “catch” the Word of God.
The image of a baseball outfielder catching a ball shows us exactly how not to let God’s Word slip from us. It shows us how we can “catch” God’s Word and hold onto the promise. But, it takes alertness–and, of course, a spiritual glove.
In a similar way, James encourages us to “receive the implanted word” (James 1:21).
He used an agricultural reference–that of planted seed. In agriculture, the soil is a very important factor in getting good crops. You have to have good dirt to get a good harvest!
Scripture compares the soil to a person’s heart. The Bible shows us that the state of one’s heart can determine what a person can “catch” from God’s Word–and it determines our ability to sustain and hold onto that word.
Related: It’s Time to Get Up!
The parable of the sower in Matthew chapter 13 shows us several conditions of the heart (or soil) which can cause us to let things slip from our grasp when it comes to “catching” the word of God:
The first condition is “by the wayside.” Jesus explains that this is when someone hears the word of the Kingdom and does not understand it. Thus, the wicked one comes and snatches it away before it can produce anything.
Next is “on stony places.” This occurs when someone hears the word and receives it with joy, but only temporarily–and so the word cannot form any roots. Thus, that word cannot be sustained when tribulation and persecution arise against that word.
The third condition is “among thorns.” Jesus says that the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches can choke the word of God, thus causing death. 🙁
The last and best condition Jesus mentions is on “good ground.” This is when someone receives the word, understands it, protects it from outside influences, allows that word to take root, and then the word produces and multiplies. In this last situation, if we can “get” or “catch”” the word, then our lives will be spiritually productive – bringing us 30%, 60%, or even 100% harvest.
That is the meaning of the parable of the sower.
Note these two things:
First, if we’re not reading God’s Word, then we’re not going to catch anything; and
If our hearts are not right–if we don’t have good soil in which the Word can take root–then what we did “catch” will not produce and multiply.
So, what are we to do with God’s principles or truths once we “catch” them?
We must hold them tightly and not let them slip.
The apostle Paul, the un-named writer of Hebrews, and even Jesus all told us how to grip and hold on to these things. I have listed eight things they tell us to hold onto below.
Here are 8 things to which we MUST hold fast:
Hold on to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Paul says to test all things and hold fast to what is good. We might rephrase this by saying, “Eat the meat and spit out the bones.”
Hold fast to the Word of life (Philippians 2:16). God’s Word is your lifeline. Without the Word, you will not be productive. Be sure to build your life with the gold, silver, and precious stones of God’s Word–not with wood, hay or stubble. (See 1 Corinthians 3:12.)
Hold on to sound words and doctrine (2 Timothy 1:13). Paul warned Christians to hold on to TRUTH. This is especially important in our day, as we are surrounded by ever-increasing, anti-godly social norms. Society’s moral absolutes are crumbling, so it’s never been more crucial to hold on to sound, Scriptural doctrine. God’s Word is our final authority!
Hold on to our confidence (Hebrews 3:6). Remember that He who began a good work in you will complete it. (See Philippians 1:6.)
Hold on to our confession of faith (Hebrews 4:14). Be tenacious in holding onto the promises of God that are in His Word. If He said it, He will do it!
Hold on to our hope as an anchor to the soul (Hebrews 6:18). Remember that hope deferred makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12).
Lay hold to eternal life (1 Timothy 6:12). He who endures to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13).
Hold on until He comes (Revelation 2:25). Do not faint or grow weary in well doing, for in due season, we shall reap (2 Thessalonians 3:13; Galatians 6:9).
The writer of Hebrews warns us to hold onto these good things, “lest we should let them slip” and drift away.
The idea there is a nautical term–meaning that if we do not hold fast, we will be in danger like a ship drifting past safe anchorage. In the same manner, Paul prays for the Ephesian believers–that they would comprehend (catch) the whole scope of the width, length, depth, and height of God’s love, which surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:18).
Saints of God, we have to HOLD ON.
As Paul said to the Colossians: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another ….” So look up! Look around. See with eyes wide open what God is sending down to you, and raise up your spiritual glove to catch it.
God is launching huge blessings at you today. He is sending you His Word, blessings, promises, and life abundantly. Will you catch what He’s sending? Leave a comment below!