On Sunday we began a series on the parables of Jesus. It’s important to understand that Jesus spoke in parables as a way to relate to His audience and use language and imagery that they were familiar with. These stories helped those with ears to hear stretch their minds and apply these principles to their lives. Crowd think can be a dangerous pit to fall into, we are blessed with the gift of discernment as God encourages us to think for ourselves while fully relying on Him. It’s a beautiful balance of empowerment, guidance, trust and freedom all at once.
“Ears to hear” is a funny saying, isn’t it? Because what else would our ears be used for? But let’s dive deeper. Jesus uses this phrasing throughout His speaking in regards to those that are spiritually open to receive and understand His lessons. All can hear, but not all will understand.
This is what we find in the parable of the Sower. Some seed falls onto the path and are eaten up by the birds. When the Word hits the ears of those with hardened hearts that don’t want to see or understand the Lord, there is nothing for the lesson to take root in. The enemy swoops in and takes these nuggets of wisdom away. But then seeds fall into the rocky ground. Sure, there are crevices for it to dive into and begin to sprout. But as one who hears Jesus with initial excitement and joy, the lesson can soon be lost in the midst of questioning or religious persecution that may come their way, just as the poor plant withers in the elements without deep roots. Enthusiasm about the gospel is not the same as repentance. Now we see that more growth comes from the seeds that fall into thorny ground. We hear the word and receive it well. But this time the distractions come in worldly focal points like money, anxiety or greed.
Even strong beginnings can be overtaken when we allow anything to take God’s place. Faith was never meant to promise earthly ease, but something far greater: eternal life with Him.
It feels like a relief when we get to the final set of seeds distributed in good soil. There, the seed finds nourishment that it needs to thrive. It grows and prospers and produces a crop that exponentially exceeds the initial plant.
This means regularly surrendering, examining, and removing anything that competes with God. It calls us to personal responsibility in our relationship with Him. He is always there, ready to pour out His Spirit into the hearts of believers and constantly pursuing the prodigal. The lessons of the Lord are concealed from hardened hearts, those that are full of pride and arrogance, believing they have achieved their salvation through their own works – or worse, that they don’t even need to be saved. So soften your hear. With the help of the Spirit, create in me a clean heart! Prepare your hearts by emptying yourself of all that is not God. Put to death that which is not allowing you to pursue Him fully. Those dead things can make the most fertile soil.
This week I pray that you have a chance to sit with God and seek His words. Lord, allow me to be good soil for Your Word. Help bring to light all that needs to be put to death to provide that space for You. Reveal to me wherever I have hardened my heart to You and Your teachings. Shine a light on it, let it be a glaring call to change! Lord I believe that with Your Holy Spirit, these changes are not only possible, they’re already divinely orchestrated. I long to be like the good soil that reproduces good fruit by the thousandfolds!
When we make space for the Lord to take over in us, the fruit that comes from it won’t just change us, it will overflow into everything around us.
