Impressive qualities

Luke 8: 4-15

“The Noble man makes noble plans and by noble deeds he stands” 
The word “noble” is associated with someone of upper-class like aristocrats/royalty because it describes a person who possesses impressive/admirable/superior/dignified/fine qualities.
Such a person is even admired and respected by his/her opponents, enemies or adversaries.
Queen Elizabeth of England demands respect by her very presence.
 She would no doubt stand out in a crowd even if people did not know who she really is, whether she wears a crown or not or is surrounded by bodyguards or not.

WHY?
The person on the inside reflects on the outward.
People were attracted to Jesus by the thousands not only because of the miracles He performed, but because of His inner qualities and what proceeded from His mouth.
The Queen herself had the following to say about Jesus:”Although we are capable of great acts of kindness, history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves-from our recklessness or our greed. God sent into the world a unique Person-neither a philosopher nor a general (important though they are)-but a Saviour, with the power to forgive” (2011)

King Jesus gave the following Parable of the sower and the soil:
A. Natural Seed
With regard to the seed scattered-
Some were trampled on
Some were eaten up by birds
Some withered once it came up
Some were choked by weeds and thorns
Some grew and produced a good crop

With regard to the place where it was sown:
The pathway
The rocks
The unprepared soil (where thorns & weed grow too)
The prepared soil (cleaned up; broken up & fertilised)


B. The seed as the Word of God
Factors that stifles the growth of the seed 
The devil who sows doubt
No rootedness in the Word
Life’s worries, riches and pleasures 

Factors that lead to growth (How noble qualities are developed)
Hearing the Word
Reflecting/Meditating on the Word
Discussing the Word
Thought-life
Deeds

Effects of spiritual growth 
Possesses an Impressive character
Lives for an honourable purpose
Fulfils a dignified function
Impacts those associated with

Conclusion
Ruth was a woman who possessed impressive qualities. 
It developed when she received and accepted the Only Living God (that her mother-in-law, Naomi served) as her own. 
Life’s worries did not choke her new-found belief when her husband died.
Her heart remained uncorrupted /undefiled even during famine and poverty.
She was known by her townsmen as a noble woman.
She was rewarded by becoming the great-grandmother of King David and part of the lineage of Jesus.