Reaping the harvest
While rocking gently on the waves of the Sea of Galilee, the multitudes gathered on the shoreline to hear Jesus speak many things to them. On this particular day He told them a parable about seeds and what hinders or helps them grow and take root. As he finished telling the story He told the crowd, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Later He gave the disciples the deeper meaning of the illustration. Because His words are eternal and His truth never changes, the meaning is as relevant for us today as it was to the people who came to hear His extraordinary teaching.
I am praying we have spiritual ears to hear what He is saying to us today.
Jesus continues to speak eternal life while meeting with us personally.
The Parable of the Sower is shared with us in Matthew 13:1-23 and Mark 4:1-20.
The seed is the word of God. The sower is anyone who shares the word. The listener’s heart condition is revealed by what he or she does with the seed of the word.
When the word is treated casually and flippantly thrown to the side, the enemy comes quickly and takes the word away. (Wayside)
Sometimes the word is shared and the receiver is excited and responds with enthusiasm. But because the heart is stony, and difficulty arises, nurturing the word is neglected and never takes root. (Stony)
There are those who receive the word but it is quickly choked out of their lives because of worries and distractions. They have no spiritual energy or vitality and the heart is overtaken by the world. (Thorny)
Fertile ground is found in a heart that is prepared to nurture and cultivate the seed of the word and receives the word with clarity and conviction. Insight and understanding are revealed by the Holy Spirit & the listener allows the word go deep into their inmost being.
The yield is lasting fruit and a harvest of righteousness.
Can you identify the condition of your heart right now? The quality of the soil must constantly be evaluated and amended if we are to yield a bountiful harvest. Are you tending your heart to yield eternal fruit?
Whoever you are, wherever you are, and whatever you are going through, I want to challenge you to turn over the soil of your heart and clean up the rocks, clods, and eliminate weeds. Take a “prayer-walk” and check the boundaries of your heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to take a “soil sample.”
“Quietness and confidence (He) shall be your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15)
Reflect and review how your heart became hard or unproductive. Are you holding a grudge, nursing an offense, refusing to forgive, allowing a bitter root to defile the soil of your heart?
Check where you have been negligent. Are you reading the word for companionship or performance? Are you walking with God at His pace and in His direction or asking Him to get in step with you? Are you spending time with other believers?
What have you let into your heart that needs to be eliminated? Too much “bad news” will snatch the good news out of your heart and soon you will be choking on doom and destruction.
Confess, repent, and turn your eyes toward Jesus. Turn off the voices vying for your attention. Turn from pursuits of empty and temporal things, and tune in to His voice.
“The kindness of God leads us to repentance.” (Romans 2:4)
Trust the truth to begin to plow the ground and prepare you to yield the fruit of righteousness.
“The root of the righteous yields fruit.” (Proverbs 12:12)
Thanksgiving flows from a clean and spacious heart!
Thank Him for the seed of the word.
Thank Him for scattering the seed into your life to feed your spirit.
Thank Him for new mercies and loving kindness toward you.
Thank Him for the power of the word to strengthen you.
Thank Him for living water to flow through your inmost being to saturate your longing heart and grow you spiritually.
Thank Him for being faithful when you are faithless.
Thank Him for touching your spiritual ears to hear the word!
“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing.” Psalm 107:21-22 (NIV)
Prayer: “Lord, thank you for countless opportunities to hear your word. Give me spiritual ears so my heart is fertile ground for your eternal truth to take root. I want You to receive the glory and praise of everlasting fruit from my life. With a grateful and humble heart I pray in Jesus' name. Amen”
