Luke 8:11-15
Now the parable means this: the seed is the Word of God. Those along the path are the ones who have heard, then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be rescued.
Those on the rocks are the ones who received the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in a time of testing they follow away.
As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries and the riches and the pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.
But as for the seed that landed on good soil, these are the ones who, after hearing the word, cling to it with an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with steadfast endurance.
The first thing we need to understand is that the seed is the Word of God.
The second thing, if we would read verse 10, is that we are about to learn the secret of the kingdom of God.
Third.....there are four kinds of soil, which are relating to the four kinds of hearts (soil) that people have onto which God's Word falls: Hard, Rocky, Thorny and Good.
The "Hard-hearted" people don't believe what they hear and they are prime targets for the devil to come and steal the word so that they won't believe what God says and be rescued.
The "Rocky" soil people are shallow. They are lacking depth. They hear and receive the word and they are joyful. But when trouble comes, they fall away - they let go of God's Word = the seed that was sown.
The "Thorny" soil people hear the Word, but when life, cares of this world, worries and the "glamorous" of this world get in the way, the Word is choked out and they never mature.
The "Good" soil kind of people are the ones who after hearing the Word, they cling to it with an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with steadfast endurance.
Identify yourself now. What kind of soil are you?
Do you hear God's Word, but don't believe it? If so, you are "Hard-harted".
Do you hear God's Word and rejoice over what you heard, but as soon as a problem comes, you forget what you heard? If so, you are "Rocky".
You are "Thorny", if you hear God's Word, but are distracted by all the details, cares, worries and fun of this world. All of the distractions and busyness choke out God's Word and take over like weeds. The crop that the Word would have produced is overrun and does not come to maturity.
You are the "Good" soil kind of person when you hear God's Word, you believe it and...."it has to be so, God cannot lie," is your stand. You hold tightly to what God says. When problems arise, you continue to agree with the Word you heard, you do not let the devil steal that Word! You do not allow life to get so busy or distractions to draw you away and crowd out God's Word. You steadfastly endure whatever comes by clinging to what God says and not being moved off of that solid position. Hold on steadily and patiently to what God has to say and you will see results.
So, let's make this really easy - be this kind of person - believe what God's Word says. Know that the devil wants to steal God's Word from you so as to keep you from victory. When troubles come, don't back away from God's Word, push toward it. Don't let worries, cares, pressures of life, or the "pleasures" of this life choke out God's Word. Guard what you allow to influence you and become mature.
What kind of soil are you? Practice doing what needs to be done to become good soil so that positive results will be evident in your life. God's Word is being sowed into your life. What will you do with it? What you do with God's Word shows what kind of soil you are and that determines what kind of results you will experience in this life.
If you desire to be the "Good" soil type of person, pray and ask God to teach you what you need to change. The answer really lies in "What am I doing with God's Word?"
PS....this is an on-going issue. You can be "Good" soil, but the devil is always at work to get you to let go of God's Word. Troubles, much busyness, distractions and cares of this world are always vying for your attention, attempting to gain the upper hand over the Word of God in our lives, choke out God's Word and render us fruitless. Be on guard. Hold fast to what you have learned.
1 Peter 5:8-9
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.
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