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Leg 2 Day 20
Good, Tilled Soil
Jesus Among Us
Scripture:
Matthew 13:18-23
MATTHEW 13:18–23 (NLT)
Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds:
The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!
SEE ALSO: MARK 4:13–20; LUKE 8:11–15
Life Lessons from Jesus:
As we have noted, our hearts have to be ready in order to really take in Jesus’s message of salvation and to keep learning from it as time goes on. Maybe the first time you heard the good news about Jesus, your heart wasn’t yet ready to receive it. Maybe you just weren’t interested. Your life was going well, and you were managing on your own—why bring a higher power into the mix? Or perhaps you know someone who was very excited about Jesus at first, but their enthusiasm lasted only a few months. Perhaps they didn’t want to put in the work of being a follower of Jesus, or maybe making changes in their life turned out to be too much for them. Giving up our time, our habits, the things we hold on to...it’s hard.
Different types of people hear the same message about the kingdom, yet they respond differently according to the condition of their hearts, how much interest they have, and how much they feel like they need Jesus. The seed that lands on good, tilled soil is the only one that produces a harvest; that soil represents the people who truly understand their need for Jesus and how absolutely irreplaceable He is. Realizing our need is huge. It’s also vital in order to continue taking in Jesus’s teachings, to continue to make those life shifts to align with His ways, and to know how worthwhile it all is.
Because of this, out of all the seed scattered, only a few seeds really land well and dig in deep. The difference among these seeds is the condition of the hearts on which they fall. Again, we can’t drag anyone into truly hearing Jesus’s message. We can’t prep anyone’s heart for them. We can only keep ourselves open and willing to continue seeking God and ensure that our soil stays primed to receive. And as our actions and lives reflect Jesus more and more, we will grow, and this will impact those around us.
The WAY:
Consider these questions as you reflect on today’s reading:
In the parable of the soils, those who don’t have deep roots end up falling away from God. What does it mean to have deep roots in the soil of your heart?
Can you give some examples of “thorns” that crowd out the good news in people’s lives before they can really get going in their relationship with God?
How can you make sure that the soil of your heart is spiritually good and well tilled for the seed God sends?
Prayer:
God, I pray that I would continue to realize my need for You as time goes on. Don’t let me fall back into focusing on the worries of life or give in to the lure of wealth and other things that can seem so significant now but don’t last. I want my life to continue changing through You and impacting those around me for You. This can only happen through Your grace and strength. In Jesus’s name, amen.