How good is the soil of your heart? (R) (8/7/2023)
Luke 8:11,15 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God…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."- NIV
Teaching about how people receive the word into their lives, Jesus gave the parable of the sower. As the seed was scattered, it fell in various places; the road, on shallow soil on a rock, among thorns and on good soil. These represent different hearts. The seed of God’s word is being preached to everyone, but the outcome is determined by the state of the individual hearts.
Any ground must be prepared before seed can be sown if a harvest is expected. Likewise, our hearts should be prepared to recieve the word of God if it must transform us and bear fruit. It’s incumbent upon each one, in humility, to consider the state of their hearts before God. The same word sown in different hearts, bears no fruit or plenty of it – depending on the heart preparation and reception.
God leaves us with the choice to allow the word to work or not. He doesn’t force His way into our lives. But once the heart is ready and receptive, the transformative power of the word will be evident and the fruit will be seen. And everyone will enjoy the fruit to their pleasure and God’s glory. Fruit doesn’t lie.
Matthew 12:35 "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him."
Shalom children of God.