How's Your Soil?

[cmc]

August 12, 2008
Key Passage: Matthew 13:18-23
Topic: Jesus
"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 13:23, ESV)

All of us are like dirt, like soil. We're each capable of hearing God's Word and responding to it. Any of us can be saved.

But some people are so hardened to the message of Jesus, that the devil is able to snatch the seed away before it can have an effect.

Jesus describes some of us as rocky ground, backing down in the face of opposition. Those like thorny ground have so many other things they're concerned about that they never really get around to living for God. But the last person, the good soil, has none of the distractions of the other two.

Are you rocky ground? Stand firm in your beliefs by looking at the examples of those who were persecuted for theirs. Find out where they drew their strength from.

Are you thorny ground? What's distracting you? Is it something you don't trust God to handle? Or is it something you don't think you can live without? Remove those weeds by trusting the promises of God to love and provide for you.

A person with good soil will produce spiritual fruit. And that fruit is meant to have results, to be harvested. What is the harvest we can expect? For one, we can expect others to come to know and love Jesus by seeing His work in our life. But there's also the fruit the Holy Spirit produces in us: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness! , gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23, ESV).

Our love is given to others. Our joy rubs off on other people too. Our peace brings an end to conflicts. Our patience and kindness will be evident. Our faithfulness and gentleness will show our friends and neighbors that there's something different about us. Our self-control will stand out in a world of "instant gratification."

These are the things people want most in their lives. And they'll see it in you and know that a life like Jesus talks about can actually work in our society.





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[cmc]

Are you thorny ground? What's distracting you? Is it something you don't trust God to handle? Or is it something you don't think you can live without? Remove those weeds by trusting the promises of God to love and provide for you.

Ouch! This daily devotion is perfect for me today in more ways than one.

Earlier today I was out in my yard clearing out some weeds from underneath an overgrown miniature trailing rose bush. It's a chore that I have put off for way too long. I have some cuts, scratches and at least one imbedded thorn.

If I had tended to this on a regular basis I'm sure I wouldn't be bleeding after just a half hour of gardening.

In a practical/spiritual sense I need to do some weeding on a regular basis. I know that God loves me and has a good plan for my life, but it is up to me to maintain the garden of my own mind, body & spirit.

[IO Storm]

Thanks cmc!



The Lord has gently been speaking to me through my eyes, (I've been

watching)...ears (listening)...and believe it or not..my spirit...(waiting).

The weeds I've been shown are lack of trust, unbelief, lack of patience,

tolerance, understanding.

No wonder the path to forgiveness has been blocked!

Know what? a simple prayer...when I "saw it"...was all it took.

Cleared the path...weeds were removed.

I was so humbled...

"Father..forgive me." "I forgive them.."

It felt so good cmc....

[IO Storm]

P.S.

Such a little thing compared to His prayer on the cross "Forgive...they know

not what they do."

But I know he still cares about every small detail of our lives.