What’s your heart’s ground type? What type of soil do your life and habits cultivate?
In Matthew 13:3-9 we read: “Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Honestly, in different seasons I can see where the ground of my heart was each of these soil types.
But the good ground is where the cultivation of Hope, Redemption & Life take deep root and yield the crops promised.
Fruit that leads to eternal life and eternal promise vs. fruit appealing to the eye and sweet to taste but is poison and only leads to death.
Its pleasures are temporal and come from the father of lies and enemy of our souls (1 Peter 5:8).
While reflecting on this passage, it became clear to me that it is vital in discipleship to desire to have a heart of good ground when both interacting with the Word of God and others.
It’s so easy when you have been on the journey of following Jesus for a while, to assume good ground!
I’m learning in my own journey that there is a cultivation (sanctification) that needs to take place continually.
A tilling of the ground if you will. Even when there’s a fallow season, there is always something occurring to cultivate the ground.
Now I am no expert, especially on things farming.
But this has really resonated with me on a personal discipleship level as I see so much application here for us today.
The Word of God is always relevant and will always do what it set out to do.
Have a heart to receive it whether you are a new or seasoned saint!
None can silence truth!
The enemy flees at the spoken truth! (read the account of Christ in the wilderness Matthew 4:1-11)
No matter how long you have been walking with the Lord, cultivate good ground and show others along the way how to do likewise.
Encourage an atmosphere of biblical unity and harmony in your sphere of influence.
Prayer: Lord, please show me any thorns of pride or doubt that may be growing. I recognize in my flesh that I am as Eve in the garden and can be swayed by temporal solutions or satisfactions. Show me any boulders of unbelief and give me strength and courage to call out for help to remove such obstacles. Place in me a desire to cultivate good ground continually and to invite others to come alongside. In Your strength and for Your glory, King Jesus- Amen!
Blessings,
Crystal Hippo, President