by Barbara Latta
A trip to Home Depot had my gardening juices salivating at
all the choices of beautiful plants I
wanted to get my hands into. I had a list
of what I wanted because I knew what would happen if I went into the garden
center without one. And I still picked up a couple of things that were not on my
list simply because they were too beautiful to resist. 
I had my muscle with me so after arriving back at home, my
husband was the hole digger. I supervised, of course, and placed the plants
where I wanted them to grow. To ensure healthy growth and beautiful blooms, we added
topsoil and fertilizer to those in the yard and used specialty soil for the
plants that grow in containers. I couldn’t expect to have an abundant harvest
of flowers if all I did was stick them into the hard Georgia clay we are
blessed with.
And wa-la, because of the good soil we used, we will have
beauty to enjoy all summer long.
We can learn a lesson from planting experiences in reference
to our relationship with God. Why do some people reap results from God’s Word
and some reap little or nothing?
Jesus told a parable in Mark 4 relating how God’s Word is a
seed we plant into our hearts. The difference in growth is the soil, not the
seed. The seed is the same because the Word never changes, but some people see
different results because of the condition of their heart when the Word is
heard.
The types of heart ground Jesus talked about are:
Apathetic Heart: Some
seed fell beside the road and birds came and ate them. These are like those who
hear a message, but are not interested or don’t care. Satan can steal the word
from their hearts before it has a chance to be understood.
Rootless Heart:
The next seed fell on rocks without much soil, a plant grew quickly but because
it had no depth the sun scorched it because there was no strong root. The Word
can be received by these people and they are happy with the message they hear,
but after temptation or trouble comes they give up because they have no deep
roots in the Word and there is nothing to hold them up.
Distracted Heart:
The seed that fell into thorns was choked up and didn’t yield a harvest. This
group of people puts more emphasis on their problems and the desire for things than
listening to the Word of God so the seed has no chance to grow in their lives.
Fertile Heart:
The last seed fell into good soil and grew a large, abundant crop. These are
the ones who spend time in the Word listening to God and praying so the seed of
the Word produces results in their lives and every need is met.
 |
| This begonia was too beautiful to resist. |
All of us who have been believers for any length of time
have probably been in each of these groups at one time or another. The
important lesson we learn from this parable is what Jesus said after sharing
this story with his disciples:
And He was saying to
the, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be
measured to you; and more will be given you besides. For whoever has, to him
more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken
away from him (Mark 4:24-25 NASB).
We can learn from planting season as we watch seeds grow in
gardens. Our heart is God’s garden and it is our responsibility to prepare the
soil for the seed to be planted in so we can reap the harvest of understanding
and living in God’s Word.
What are some ways you plant God’s Word as seeds? Share your
thoughts and ideas.
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