“And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”
Luke 8:9-15 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.8.9-15.KJV
Seeking Justice Like Our Father
In Isaiah 1:17, God calls His people to “learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” These are not just suggestions—they are commands rooted in God’s own heart for justice.
Isaiah highlights three of the most vulnerable groups in his time: the oppressed, the fatherless, and the widow. Their suffering was not to be ignored—it was to be confronted. And the same is true today.
Who are the oppressed? They are those weighed down by injustice, those suffering under the burden of wrongdoing. Defending them is more than offering comfort—it means stepping up, challenging oppression at its source, and refusing to be passive in the face of evil.
Who are the fatherless? In God’s design, parents are protectors and champions for their children. But in a broken world, many children are left without defenders, vulnerable to harm. Taking up their cause means more than acknowledging their ...