God's Roadmap

Now may the Lord Jesus Christ and our Father God, who loved us and in his wonderful grace gave us eternal comfort and a beautiful hope that cannot fail, encourage your hearts and inspire you with strength to always do and speak what is good and beautiful in his eyes (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 TPT).


Friday, April 29, 2022

4 Examples of How Our Value of Scripture Determines Our Belief System


by Barbara Latta 

Why do gardeners take such great care to prepare soil before planting? 


The proper space is chosen for the right amount of sunshine, furrows are plowed, and fertilizer is applied. Weeds are pulled to prevent choking the precious seeds that are soon sown. Germination success is due to the soil the gardener chooses. 


Jesus used this agricultural picture in Mark 4:1-20 to teach us how important it is to prepare our hearts. He told the disciples this example was the key to understanding all His parables. The value placed on the truth of scripture is the determining factor for good growth. 


I have received some great insight
regarding this parable from some classes I am taking through Charis Bible College. The instructor, Greg Mohr, shared some parallels into this teaching about valuing biblical insight above all else.
 


These 4 examples show us the way we value scripture determines our belief system. Our heart is the ground where belief or unbelief grows. If God's Word isn't accepted as truth, a person goes their own way, and the produce of their lives leads to darkness.


1. The Wayside Ground. This ground is hard packed with no capacity to receive. The seeds can't penetrate the hardened earth; therefore, they can't produce.


This ground represents people who regard other belief systems over the accuracy and truth of biblical teaching.


Traditional sayings that aren't scriptural rule their lives such as "A loving God wouldn't send anyone to hell," or "God helps those who help themselves." The Bible carries no importance to their lives.


This hardened way of thinking is the basis for pro-choice and gay rights attitudes.


They elevate what they think and what is politically correct above all else. When a heart grows this hard, the Bible is seen as a myth with no importance.


2. The Stony Ground. People who depend upon their feelings represent the stony ground. They may seem excited about the Lord at first, but when difficulty arrives and they get offended, they jump ship and take the path of least resistance.


People who leave churches or jobs when something doesn’t go their way use emotions as the barometer of their lives. 


Offenses guide their reactions and according to Luke 17:1 these offenses are the source of betrayal, and false prophets which leads to incorrect religious doctrine and cults. Lawlessness abounds because there is no fear of God.


3. The Thorny Ground. Those who place greater importance on riches, possessions, and positions are like seeds scattered on thorny ground. Those kernels will grow until it costs the vegetation too much, and the people with the thorny ground heart will serve Jesus until the price is too high.  

These folks can quote verses and believe the Bible as long as it doesn’t get in the way of their goals. Instead of trusting the Lord for promotion, they go after success their own way and idolize acclaim from people. 

4. The Good Ground. A good heart values scripture as truth above all else. Opinions, society, traditions, and riches are not the determining factor of their belief system.

Seed sown in the soil of a truth-seeking heart produces a healthy crop, which in turn creates more nuggets of truth to spread among those who are hungry and thirsty for Jesus.  

This parable teaches us the soil is the variable in all these examples, not the seed. The seed for our hearts is God’s Word and it never changes. The result is the value we place on what we hear.  


What do we want the world to experience from our garden?  


Pay attention to what you hear. By your own standard of measurement [that is, to the extent that you study spiritual truth and apply godly wisdom] it will be measured to you [and you will be given even greater ability to respond]-and more will be given to you besides. For whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding will be given; and whoever does not have [a yearning for truth], even what he has will be taken away from him (Mark 4:24-25 AMP). 


Join the conversation and share your thoughts. 


 

 

20 comments:

  1. Lots of truth here Ms. Barbara. Having just planted a big vegetable garden last weekend, the planting was the easy part. My blistered hand reminds me that the hard part is preparing the soil to accept the seed readily and nourish it. Well done author!

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    1. J.D. I bet your garden is a sight to behold. The soil preparation is hard work but the harvest makes it worth the effort doesn't it? Thanks for sharing. Blessings!

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  2. One of my favorite parables. It’s so rich and deep and filled with wisdom. thanks for sharing these new insights.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by to share. I love this parable also. It does contain so much wisdom for our lives. Blessings!

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  3. You provide fresh insights into this often referred to passage. Wonderful, Barbara! God bless!

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    1. Thank you, Nancy, for sharing your thoughts. Blessings!

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  4. You always teach me something new. I love the comparison of the ground to types of people. I can see a little of myself in each one.

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    1. Jennifer, I see myself in all of these at some time in my life also. Thanks for stopping by to share. Blessings!

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  5. I wish I had a green thumb (and the patience to garden). I love this story from the Bible. Thank you for sharing your wonderful encouragement.

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    1. As Jesus told His disciples, this parable was the key to understanding all the rest. I think that is why He used a seed as an example. Everything grows from a seed. Our words and actions are the result of what seed we let grow. Thanks so much for sharing. Blessings!

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  6. Thanks Barbara. We just went through that parable in church, and your thoughts brought new insight. Appreciate the emphasis on the Word of God.

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    1. This parable is the basis for much teaching as it does contain so many lessons. I would love to hear what you learned from the teaching at your church too. Thanks so much for sharing. Blessings!

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  7. Barbara, your practical examples of each type of thinking give new insight to this parable. I'm challenged to evaluate my own notions about God's word.

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    1. Annie, I am challenged to find new nuggets each time I read this parable also. Thanks for stopping by to share. Blessings!

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  8. As a farm and garden girl, your message is very real for me. I can see that in certain stages of my life, I have resembled each of these soils. I'm so thankful my Father was patient with me as He led me (and continues to lead me) to the good soil. Thank you, Barbara.

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    1. I can see myself in each stage also, Katherine. We can be thankful our Father is so patient with us. Thanks for sharing. Blessings!

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  9. You are so right, Barbara, the seed, God's Word, doesn't change. And a heart God has prepared to hear it will allow the Word to grow and flourish. A timely reminder at this time of planting!

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    1. God uses so many examples of natural things to teach us. We can learn so much from seeds as we watch those we plant grow through the soil. Thanks for sharing. Blessings!

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  10. Your post is filled with truth, Barbara and includes the best description of the soil types I’ve read. You’re right the seed—the Word—never changes. We can pray for God to prepare the soil as we share Truth.

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    1. It does make a difference when we realize the soil is what makes seeds grow. Once we realize this truth we can prioritize preparing our heart soil to receive the truth. Thanks for sharing. Blessings!

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