As a young boy, I was blessed to spend a few impressionable years on my grandparents’ farm in South Central Texas.
Both Opa and Oma shared their love of the land and demonstrated practical ways to produce much of what we needed to sustain as a family.
My Mom and I experienced a simpler way of living off the land our God had created.
They worked that 78 acres of black loam farmland for nearly 70 years of blissful marriage while raising three boys and a girl through the Great Depression and World War II.
They rotated crops annually and plowed under grasses and legumes to enrich the soil for bumper crops.
Jesus talked about soil in Matthew 13:3-9. Then later, in verses 18 through 23 He explains the parable to His disciples.
The soil Jesus is talking about is actually the human heart. And the seed spread over the four types of soil is the Word of God. That’s where I prefer we take this discussion.
Practically speaking, spreading seed any place other than on fertile ground is wasteful. So, let’s talk about the condition of the human heart these days in which we live.
Just as in Jesus’ time, the human heart can easily be corrupted by what it experiences. Over time, the heart can be swiftly swayed by sins committed by a person and others around them.
The one who is behind it all is Satan, the deceiver of all that is good and pleasing to God. Like the birds of the air, he and his minions quickly remove the seeds of Truth as it is spread by those who are faithful.
Some will hear the Word of God, take heart in the Truth presented, but as troubles come their way they will sadly lose any understanding received. The Word never has a chance to take root and grow.
Then there are those who receive the Word among the thorns of their life. Their riches, possessions and worries that follow keep them from growing and whatever was received is choked out in short order.
Yet in God’s perfect timing, there are some human hearts that have been amply prepared by the Holy Spirit to receive the Word of God and understand it.
Nothing can thwart its growth and those hearts are then used by God to greatly further the Kingdom of Heaven.
May your heart become filled with the Holy Spirit and may He use you mightily to spread His Word for His glory!