That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell upon the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among the thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil,
where it produced a crop - a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Who ever has ears, let him hear." Matthew 13:1-9
God is the Farmer.
He has given us His Word. Through His Word, through the Holy Spirit, and through other people, God scatters seeds in our life. Seeds of truth about who He is and what He wants in our life. Held captive by the enemy.
What kind of soil are you?
The Path.
Held captive by the enemy. The devil who works through the things of the world holds people captive so that when they hear truth, they do not understand it.
The enemy can do something in the life of an unbeliever that he cannot do once someone comes to Jesus - snatch. Once we belong to Jesus the devil cannot snatch us away. He can though try to lure us away so that we choose to willing walk away from God. The devil does what Jesus said the thief comes to do. Steal. He steals the truth from people's hearts so that the truth cannot take hold and make a difference in their life. He replaces it with seeds of doubt, lust, greed, pride, anger, hatred, selfishness.
Rocky Ground.
The soil here is very shallow. Infested with rocks, not in rich soil. A person who's life is on rocky ground, hears the truth of Jesus. They excitedly accepted it. They may run down the isle believing their life is about to change, and it is. They may even get into God's word, pray and come to church. But if when they are not patient enough with God allowing His truth to develop roots, they give up. When their decision to walk with Jesus does not bear the immediate and dramatic results they were hoping for, they give up.
Thorny Ground.
When we come to Christ we are called to put death to self. To walk away from the things of the world. Too many Christians want both. The world and Jesus. Impossible. If you love the world you hate Jesus. There is not enough room in our life for Jesus and the things of the world. Pleasure, riches, but also trouble in health, finances addiction, relationships. It can all choke out the work of the Holy Spirit in our life.
Good Soil.
When we come to Jesus, turn out back on the world, commit to growing in Christ, surrender to the power of the Hold Spirit, acknowledge Jesus as Lord, God begins to grow in us an amazing, life transforming harvest. We become more of disciples who make disciples. To be a disciple, you must make disciples. No disciples, you're not a true disciple. Still struggle, still fail, but that is where grace makes all the difference. You never stop fighting the enemy, you never give up. You finish your race.
You Change Your Soil.
Eliminate busyness. Learn contentment. Deny desires. Put self to death to make room for Christ. Give the Holy Spirit power. Focus on Jesus, not the storm. Build deep roots through:
Daily Bible study and prayer
Worship and service to God and others
Living out the gospel in your life and sharing it with others
