We can all agree that things that really matter are often things that are non materialistic or unseen such as our hearts. Today we want to learn from Jesus famous parable of the sower. Everything we do works through absolute principles. Principles don't change with time and age such as gravitational, each time you throw things up in the air, they will always come back down. Another permanent principle in life is the principle of sowing and reaping.
Jesus stated clearly that the sower sow seeds and the seeds are the Word of God or we could say God's promises. Like seed, God's word is sown everywhere but according to this parable, it produces different results in different soil conditions.
“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. - Mark 4
God is a just God, He spreads the seed and give everyone the same opportunities no matter who you are or where you are.
But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
The seed is the word of God. How diligent are you in reading the Bible? When you read the word, the seeds were sown, you receive the seed and it depens on how these seeds will settle in your heart, which is the soil.
A little understanding of what a soil is comprised of and what type of soil there are.
For example, mud is a type of soil that is destructive and few can grow on mud because it is too wet and too heavy. The parable mentioned four types of soil: 4 types of soil:
Way-side, pathway
Stony ground
Thorny ground
Good ground
To be good soil, we must understand this parable. When you put soil in a jar and then pour water in, the soil sediments will settle into three components: Sand, Silt and Clay
SAND
Sand particles are the coarsest of all soil textures.
Easier to till and to dig. However, it’s the least effective soil texture for nutrient retention.
Sandy soil dries out the quickest of all soil textures, especially in hot weather.
Too much of sand in our heart means we get quickly excited when we hear good word but then we don't have capacity to retain the rhema or the wisdom of the word and our heart dry out very quickly. Our spiritual journey easily go up and down.
CLAY
Clay’s particle size is the finest of all soil textures
Clay is slick and sticky when wet, it can be very hard to break apart when dry.
it retains the most moisture, hold water for long period.
Clay's soil density can restrict root growth
The Bible says in Hosea, " Plow your hardened Heart" because you don't want your heart hardened. When our hearts hardened, water can't flow, we just become recipient of things, without ability to let it flow out. The Bible teaches us that our hearts shall be like a river of flowing water. When water don't flow it becomes hardened clay. and it's not good soil.
SILT
Silt particle size is medium.
Silt is soft and very smooth, having a floury, powdery feel.
Silt water rentention is moderate.
You see, the best soil is not made of just one component only. The best combination is called "LOAM"
Loam: Since it's a balance of the three primary textures, particle size is fine to coarse. And its ability to retain water is moderate, ranging from 1–2 inches per foot of soil depth.
Loam is considered the ideal soil texture for planting because it drains well, retains nutrients, and provides a friendly habitat for garden-helping organisms.
Now How do we know which type of soil we have in our heart?
Water is the only element that will separate each layers of soil, likewise in our hearts.
God's word is the living water. His word is profitable for rebuke, affirm, correct.
There is power in the living water, that's why baptism is not just a symbol, it signifies that as we surrender our life to Jesus, we have been set apart from the world to God.
Search your heart, read the word and let the water runs through our hearts ..
“ Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” - Psalms 139:23-24 NIV
Do you know one of the very first tillers of the ground? Cain.
He was a farmer He planted and He reaped a harvest In which he presented to the Lord but the Lord rejected.
You see God always look at the heart.. He always see the unseen thing.. as in your motive, your desire, your secret place..
God revealed which soil was in Cain’s heart… it was filled with envy, unyielded anger, pride
He killed his brother Abel, the blood wet the soil and cries to Heaven…
And because of that, God cursed the soil… The soil is our hearts…
When we cultivate the soil with envy and anger and pride; what kind of harvest will you reap? That’s why our hearts are deceitful, you can’t trust your heart, Trust only in the Lord with all your heart.. Then from it will flow … rivers of living water.
When our hearts not right, we will produce the curse like Cain, he became wanderer, a vagabond. it means unsettled and wherever he goes, he will always have unending well in his heart bottomless and pointless journey.
Now that we understand the different soils. We must condition our hearts through the Word of God. Remove unwanted things or unuseful things from the soil of our hearts. Always keep our hearts humble and open (moist) for God to plant the seed and water it down.
Hope you are blessed with this reading.
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