December 13 2011

Your Soil
 
Reading: Mark 4.3-9, 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.”

Anytime that I read this passage or heard this passage taught, I had the perception that the seed is tossed on the soil and it being rocky, or thorny, or dry, etc. is just what it is, there is no consideration for it being made that way or a possibility that it could be any different. If you are going to prepare the soil, of course, it should be good soil for seed… but these soils were not. Why? The preparation of the soil, the nature of the soil, the richness of the soil is completely up to us, the soil. We have the right and the ability to choose which soil we are. We have the choice to let go of the “rocky” hardness of our heart from the bitterness of past hurts. We have the choice to eliminate the thorns and weeds of our sin that can choke out the good that God is attempting to grow in your life. We have the choice to dig more deeply into God’s Word so that the world cannot snatch away through lies, deceit and human reasoning the seeds that God is planting in your life. You have the choice to work at being the good soil, constantly ready for the seeds that God is attempting to plant in your life. Although hurts, temptations and other influences are a part of our life; we must maintain a focus that the singular purpose of the soil is to be ready for the seeds that God is sowing.

How is your soil? Evaluate the soil of your heart… are their rocks of unforgiveness or weeds/thorns of sin that have grown, if so, what are they?


How can you prepare the soil of your heart for the seeds that God will be planting today?



End of the Day Review
  
Were you able to cultivate your soil and eliminate the enemies of maintaining healthy soil, if so, how?
 
 Were you able to see and understand the seeds that God was planting in your heart today? What were they and how did you respond?