Good Soil Promotes Growth

When i think on the times Jesus used farming metaphors in His teachings and parables i conclude that God must love farming!  One such parable is the Parable of the sower in Matthew 13: 1-7.  Jesus speaks about a farmer (God ), who goes to his garden (our hearts) to sow some seed.(The Word of God) and the various scenarios and outcomes of the sowing.

1. Some seed fell by the wayside ; and the birds came and devoured them. Jesus went on to explain that  when we hear the Word of God but do not understand it , then the wicked one will come and snatch away, what was sown in our hearts.

Is your heart ready to hear/ receive  the word God sends for the season you are in ?

If God asked you to leave your well paying job and go volunteer in another organization for no pay at all, would you?

Preparation to hear the word of God.

2.   Some fell on stony places , where they did not have much earth; and immediately sprung up because they had no depth of earth. But when the Sun was up, they were scorched away, and because they had no root, they withered away.  Jesus explains that this is he who hears the word and immediately receive it with joy; yet when he has no root in , himself and endures only for a while. For when tribulation or  persecution arises because of the word , immediately he stumbles.

You  speak to family or even friends about God asking you to  quit your job and take on an assignment for no pay.  Their reaction is you must be crazy  to make such a decision because you think you heard God tell you. You start doubting whether you heard God speak clearly. Your financial goals would be set back by this decision in a major way. Are you ready for such a set back?

Preparation of your heart to obey the Word of God.

3.  And some fell among thorns , and the thorns sprung up and chocked them.  Now he who received seed among thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

You say YES to the Word, quit the job and take on the assignment for no pay .  You are banking on your savings to carry you only for them to quickly run out and reality hits home that no more money is coming in and you have to rely on God to provide for you. Family and friends are not pleased with your decision, major lifestyle changes have to be made, you don’t know how to live a life without money coming in through a job ! Reliance on God is too hard. How long before you start looking for a new job to start earning instead of trusting God to provide for you as you do His will?

Preparation to remain in the will of God.

4. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop; some 100 fold, some 60 some 30.

But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it , who indeed bears fruit and produces : some 100fold, some 60, some 30.

God clearly spoke to you and asked you to leave your high paying job and take on an another assignment for no pay. You immediately pray and ask God to confirm His word to you . Understanding His word implies seeking His timing, and wisdom on how to proceed the  walk of  obedience. When the decision is made in your heart to obey, He strengthens us to overcome every opposition the enemy launches to make you disobey God. Opposition comes from those closest to you ; from family , friends the cares and burdens of this world  that manifest as fear, doubt and anxiety.

Preparation to know the will of God and to do the will of God.

All the Scenarios Jesus addresses in this parable point towards Preparation. If our hearts are not prepared,  they cannot be good soil for His word to produce a bountiful harvest. A serious farmer prepares His soil before planting by tilling the land, ensuring soil moisture and pH are right, removing the weeds, stones,  fertilizing the soil, et cetera..

Likewise, God prepares our hearts to receive His word in every season of our lives.  As we spend time in His word; (reading, studying , meditating and memorizing ) , in prayer , in fellowships, we are allowing him to make our hearts fertile ground. The more of His Word we have hidden in our hearts, the stronger our relationship with Him will be, the easier it is for us to trust and obey when He calls on us for any assignment.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, i thank you because you are the Lord of the Harvest. I pray that you would prepare my heart to be fertile ground for your word. I want to produce 100 fold Lord. Work in my heart, through your word that it may be ready always to know and to do you will. In Jesus’s name i pray, Amen.