What is the condition of the soil of your heart?
Today I want to look at a parable Jesus told in Matthew 3 about a sower who scattered seed in a variety of places. As we move through this story I want you, as I will be doing, to think about yourself honestly, ask the Lord to help you hear which soil you may be reflecting right now. You see God is constantly sowing seeds on your heart – from His Word, from circumstance and more the question is, what is the condition of the soil of your heart to receive it? If you are like me, you move between them depending on the situation, your attitude, and your current focus on Christ.
Jesus tells us that as this sower scatters seed some falls on a path only to be snatched away by birds. Jesus explains this soil this way: “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.”
So many times I come across a truth I don’t understand – usually in scripture but sometimes in my own failures – I mess up and fail to understand the lesson to learn. And instead of digging deeper and trying to understand I leave it alone and eventually it is gone. Like a bird snatched it off of my hard heart. When you don’t understand Jesus, dig deeper.
The next soil Jesus describes is a rocky ground where the seeds spring up due to shallow soil but are scorched by the sun. Jesus would later explain this soil this way, “As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.”
I am more guilty of this than I care to admit. I hear a truth from God – am excited to apply it but as soon as it gets hard or harder than I expected I bail. On a number of occasions, I have felt convicted about taking care of my body. Our bodies are a temple and gluttony is a sin and all of that. I get into it but on day 6 the troubles make it too hard to bear. When obedience costs you, that’s when real growth happens.
Jesus then describes a soil where thorns choke the plant to death. He then describes it this way,
“As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.”
I did this just yesterday. I called my dad in search of an illustration for my sermon. He suggested the biblical story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. I replied, "That would work well but I was hoping for a real-world story." My dad jokingly replied, "You don't think that's a real story?" And I was caught! Of course I do - but I was giving into this awful deceit that many of us have - a notion that the Bible and church are not the real world - so they can't be relevant. Oh how the adversary longs to keep us from seeing how not only is God's truth relevant it is the only answer. So we treat Christianity like a hobby until the "real world" gets in the way. Without Christ you can accomplish nothing.
The final soil is the good soil and produces much fruit. Of this Jesus says, “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.”
In simple terms, this means learn and obey. Study and ask questions and read so you understand and then obey it or apply it. This should be the most repetitive process in the sincere Christian’s life!
During this time, indeed every day, ask yourself - what is the condition of the soil of your heart?
I am a 51 year old female that just found out I have Parkinson's about a year and half, but I have been having signs of it for years, tremors, depression, and body weakness. ECT. I honestly don't think my doctor was reading the signs because of my gender and age. A few years ago I had my shoulder lock up on me and I was sent to a P.T since x-rays didn't show any physical damage. My shaking was getting worse and I began falling. Only when my speech became so bad that it brought concern to my dentist was Parkinson's even considered. He phoned my doctor with his concerns about my shaking and balance problems. By this time I was forgoing shots in the back of my neck for back and neck pain to which once again I was sent to a P.T (although x-rays showed no damage) I was told I had a few spurs which were most likely causing the pain. Here I was feeling like my whole body was falling apart and the doctor could not find anything wrong, maybe it was all in my head? My doctor even seemed annoyed with me and things just kept progressing and I just kept it to myself, why bother going through testing and them finding nothing? Well, it was after my second P.T called my doctor about the weakness in my legs and arms, by this time I had developed a gait in my walk and I fell more frequently. Only then did my doctor send me to a specialist and it was found that I had Parkinson's, and that I have had it for awhile. I think because I was a woman that my signs and symptoms weren't taken seriously and therefor left untreated for so long,I was taking pramipexole dihydrochloride three times daily, I Was on carbidopa levodopa but only lasted 90 minutes then wore off.I found that none of the current medications worked effective for me.I got tired of using those medication so I decided to apply natural herbs formula that was prescribed to me by my second P.T, so i emailed drsundayherbalcenter@gmail.com and purchased the herbal formula from Dr Sunday herbal center and he sent the herbal medicine to me, There has been huge progression ever since I start the treatment plan which will last for 12 weeks usage.all the symptoms and sign has begin to disappear
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