This morning while walking my dog in our local park, I was praying and asking the Lord to forgive areas in my life that are not aligned with Him, specifically areas that have always been a bit of a struggle for me. As I prayed that prayer, I saw a picture of someone digging up a whole area of their yard and bringing in new soil. I was immediately reminded of the verses about the sower, the seed and the soil.
Here are the verses and the explanation as found in the Gospel of Matthew 13:3-9,18-23 NIV:
[3] “Then he [Jesus] told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. [4] As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. [5] Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. [6] But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. [7] Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. [8] Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. [9] Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
[18] “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: [19] When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. [20] The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. [21] But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. [22] The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. [23] But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
So often when I have read these verses before, I always understood that Jesus was talking about different people and their responses to the Gospel of the Kingdom, and I do believe that is true. However, this morning I saw that it could also be applied to different areas of my life! There are areas of my life where I bear good fruit, and then there are areas where I am less fruitful, areas where regularly my attention and focus gets distracted, areas where I have been trying to change for years and seen little progress, and probably areas where God’s Word has yet to penetrate. That really changes my reading of this parable, as I always thought because I was bearing fruit in areas, I was good soil.
Today, I felt the gentle encouragement of the Lord to take a closer look at my life, and take a real inventory of the type of soil I have in specific areas. I have never thought this way before, and while challenging, I think the encouragement is very helpful.
In my yard, when I wanted to create a garden, I dug up that area of the yard, brought in new soil and fertilizer. I can do similar things in my life. I can choose to dig up sections, to turn them over, to reveal that which is under the surface. I can find a trusted friend or two to reveal the depths of my soil, areas where I have been unfruitful, areas where I have let the worldly mindset trample and harden! I can confess my findings to the Lord, (He knows them anyway) and ask for His help in turning over and cleaning my life.
Sometimes He will use the refuse of my past, now turned to compost, to renew my present life, bearing fruit for others to see. What was brokenness and sinful, when revealed and subjected to the Word, broken down into humility, can now help others and bear fruit for His Glory.
This morning I am encouraged to pray for the Lord’s revelation to show me what areas in my life need to be renewed, weeded, roto-tilled, fertilized and watered. I am confident that He is about a work in my life to enable me to bear more fruit! Thank you Lord for Your active word, and Your direction and guidance! I do want to bear good fruit in every area of my life!
Ameen and Amen!
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