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Preparing for Planting

"But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it.  He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown."  Matt. 13:23

I love this time of the year.  I love the the smell of fresh dirt being turned over as the local farmers plow their rows.  I love looking out practically any window of my house and seeing new life spring up in the fields that surround our home.  I gladly welcome all that springtime has to offer . . . pollen and all!

I love to see the farmers in our area produce a bountiful crop.  I love it when God provides the right amounts of rain at just the right times and then their crops flourish.  I so admire the diligence of a farmer to do whatever it takes to bring forth a crop that he can be proud of.

For most of us, we have seeds sown into us many times a week.  Based on how often your participate in corporate worship, small group Bible studies, or in personal quiet times in the Word, we have many opportunities to have God's Word planted into our hearts and lives.

As Jesus told the parable of the sower to the crowds that were gathered around him, He was trying to get them to realize that getting the Word into your ears is one thing, but letting the Word get into your life is another. 

This parable is recorded in three of the four Gospel accounts.  Listen to some of the things that Luke attributes as to why the Word doesn't get into the life of some hearers (8:14):
  • Worries of Life
  • Riches
  • Pleasures
  • Lack of Maturity  
As my husband stands in the pulpit each Sunday to preach God's Word, He does so knowing that many sets of ears are hearing it proclaimed yet a large percentage of them will never let it soak into their lives.  They are too consumed with worries, riches, or pleasures to have the Word of God take root in their heart. 

I have such a desire to see Christians grow in their spiritual maturity.  Unfortunately what I tend to see are many Christians who are content with having their ears tickled with a feel-good sermon or a Bible study that deals with relational or spiritual matters that barely get below the surface.  Where practical messages are needed at times, so are the studies and messages that challenge you to dig in a little deeper and get beyond just scratching the surface of God's Word.

So, how's the soil of your heart?  Is it good soil that receives the Word and retains it?  Or, do you retain it for a moment, only to lose it once trials or negative circumstances come your way?

Has your life produced fruit as a result of your study of God's Word?  Can you truly say that you are growing in your spiritual maturity?  Are you moving forwards or backwards in your walk with the Lord?

Take some time to search your heart today.  I guarantee that your pastor and Sunday School teacher have a burning desire to see God's Word take root in your life.  But more importantly, God Himself is patiently watching and waiting for you to prepare your heart for planting.  He so strongly desires to see your faith mature and produce a crop that will glorify Him.

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