MATTHEW 13:1-9 – “That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.””
THEME OF THE DAY: THE SOIL IN OUR HEARTS. Today’s scripture is likely familiar to us. It is the Parable of the Sower. Parables are often used by Jesus to teach lessons about Himself, the Christian life, and the Kingdom of God. Jesus also would explain His parables. What comes next in our devotion is just that – Jesus explaining the Parable of the Sower. Here it is…
“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty” (Matthew 13:18-23).
Jesus identifies four individuals and their hearts, but only one is suitable for producing real and lasting fruit. What does this mean? The answer to that question is probing to the sensitive heart. All four people had their hearts exposed to the Word of God which is the Sower’s seed. Yet only one correctly responds and gives evidence of being changed by the Word of God. The lesson and application for us?
It is not the professing Christian that is the real Christian. The real Christian is the fruit bearing Christian, and that fruit is the character of the Lord Jesus – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
The application? Let’s do a little “farming” by examining the soil that is currently in our hearts. We are in one of the four categories in Jesus’ parable. There is no escaping that truth. Get alone with the Lord and have Him reveal to us what heart in His parable describes us.
PRAYER: Father, may my heart be soft, pliable, and good soil so Your Spirit may produce lasting fruit for You.
REFLECTION: Guard against the weeds of worldly care and pleasures which can ruin the soil that is in our hearts.