Scripture
"Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown." (Mark 4:20)
Observation
Iconic setting: A natural Amphitheater as Jesus identified the large crowd gathered to hear him at the lake and sets out on a boat, using nature as an amplifier so all could hear.
Iconic teaching: A farmer and how effective the sowing of seeds (the Word of God) are on 4 different types of soils (our ability to hear and obey).
Application
The surface pressure of my soil is often rocky or thorny. I hear so many fruitful things but constantly forget and let those ideas rot and get choked out by thorns. Like the seed that falls on rocky soil, I often experience a good word and it applies immediately. Then eventually life happens and with it the once promising seed slowly decays.
Pastor Wayne describes the soils like this:
Path = Understanding: determined by the events and experiences that form our “worldview”. Our understanding needs to be defined as “standing under the truth."
Rocky = Deep Roots: we need to concentrate more on our “roots” then our “fruit”; what’s inside rather than what people see. Sometimes we need to forgo fruit to put health first and focus on the depth of our roots. If I’m more concerned with FRUITS TO SHOW, I’ll neglect the ROOTS TO GROW.
Thorns = Worries of the World & Deceitfulness of Riches: this happens when we put our goals above God’s goals and fail to serve the “audience of One."
Good = Yielding to the Holy Spirit: the amount we produce is how much we are open to "yield to the plow” of the Holy Spirit. All the soil is GOOD as long as we allow the Holy Spirit to plow the field as needed.
In order for me to reach my potential I need to cultivate good soil. How?
- Be intentional in my learning. I can't just go through the motions anymore. My life is not a Unit Mastery class that I can just cram for and check off a list. It reaquires attention and understanding to last a lifetime.
- Seek wisdom. I can't sit still and hope seed drops my way. I need to pursue seed. Proverbs 4:7 reminds me that “The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” Hawaiians say, “E hoʻōiki i ka hoʻina wale, o hōʻino ʻia mai ke kumu”, which means “one should never go home without some knowledge.” I need to pursue being a life-long learner and seize every opportunity, every scattering of the seed, as a chance to learn and grow.
- Pass it on. I need to pay it forward and spread the seed. I’m reminded again from Proverbs 27:17 that “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” As I continue to be mentored and shepherded, I need to wisely identify opportunities to mentor and shepherd. Both efforts, as guided by the Holy Spirit, will continue to cultivate and nurture the soil of my heart and mind to be fertile ground for God to do His perfect work in His perfect timing.
Prayer
Jesus, soften the surface pressure of my heart, mind and soil. May your Word fall on fertile ground, taking deep root and blossoming into fruitful fruit. Amen
