Have You ever considered what the soil of your heart looks like?
I remember growing up being pretty confused about what the Parable of the Sower meant. I used to think it had something to do with losing your salvation; as I grew older, I began to understand that it had nothing to do with that at all, but everything to do with how you are receiving the lessons that God is giving you.
I was reading Luke 8 this morning (the Parable of the Sower) and remembered my time doing YWAM’s Discipleship Bible School. In the DBS we had to rewrite a parable as one of our homework assignments and I just happened to choose the Parable of the Sower. I think it’s rather fitting since we have DBS running now in Richmond to share with you my parable.
One day the school leader Sommers had written messages for four people, and they came to get them.
One he gave to Kevin who, in running back to his dorm, tripped over a root and fell; the paper fell out of his hand and blew away. He never even knew what it said.
The next message went to Lilly, but someone came and stole it from her hand and ran away. Unfortunately, she quickly forgot what it said.
Elyssa got the third message. She read it, then said, “ok cool.” She thought she would remember, so she threw away the paper. She got so busy the next week and also forgot it.
Lexa, on the other hand, taped the message she got to the wall by her bed and read it every morning. The revelation of this message grew more and more. Then she taught her roommates, who then taught their friends. The message continued to spread through the community, and the whole campus was impacted.
If you read Luke 8:11-15 it gives a detailed description of what the parable of the Sower was supposed to mean.
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
How are you cultivating the soil of your heart or more, how are you letting God cultivate It?
You can prepare your heart by seeking Him, being obedient, and by listening. If you are not doing those things, it leaves your heart closed to His working in your life. He is a gentleman; He is not going to barge His way into where He is not welcomed.
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
He will keep pursuing you, knocking on the door of your heart, but it is up to you to let Him in. When you do let Him into areas in your life, He can care for your soil by weeding, taking out the rocks, or tilling it. Then, when He speaks you will hear Him and His words will have room to grow inside you.
Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Honestly, I have had more than one of these soils in my heart at different times in my life. Where are you at? How is your soil? Are you caring for it? Don’t let the things of your life distract you from what the Lord wants you to do; let us know in the comments how you can address your soil today.
