The agreeable soil of our hearts ...

This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.  (Luke 8:11-15, NLT)

In the soil of our hearts lies the potential of the abundance of God’s blessing and beauty. The soil is the substance that God imparts life to. The seeds of faith in God come through the gift and grace of His presence and in His Word which He will plant and cause to grow in the soil of our hearts when we are soft and agreeable to Him. The Holy Spirit will then nurture and give life to the plant of faith imparted to us.

If we are hard to God’s Word, always closing ourselves off to the moisture and nourishment which He gives, we will fade in the heat of the day. If we are seeking other sources of sustenance, we will be choked off from the life that His Spirit will lead us to. If we are unsure about Christ being life to us, we will be smothered by the other things and the life He so freely gives, will be pushed aside. If we do not trust in the life He gives, our roots will not grow deep and we will die in our faith as immature plants. If we do not see the evil weeds around us competing for nourishment, they will sap the strength we need in our life with Christ.

Be soft and agreeable to God, His Word and His Spirit. Let Christ bring you new life as He teaches, refines and nourishes you. Do not be fooled into thinking other sources can bring you true life. Don’t be rebellious to the only true life for our souls. And don’t let temptations, cares, riches and pleasures ever choke out the potential, abundance and beauty that only He can bring to the soil of your heart. Let God have His way with the soil of your heart.

“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:12-15 ESV).

Suggested Bible Reading ... Luke 8 & Hebrews 3

A repost from 2013