Spiritual Soil

Jesus spoke and taught in parables. Many of those parables had to do with agriculture because many of His physical time here on earth were farmers. They understood how the concepts of agricultural growth and spiritual growth could be seen as parallel stories. Just as in planting, a seed has to be dried or dead for it to blossom into new life. Our spiritual lives have to do the same thing. If we are operating out of our own earthly mind, will, and emotions, we aren't "dead" to become alive again to new growth. This growth or new life has to planted in the right soil also.

Matthew 13:10-17

10. The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;

though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding,

you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

15 For this people’s heart has become calloused,

they hardly hear with their ears,

and they have closed their eyes.

Otherwise, they might see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their hearts

and turn, and I would heal them.’[a]

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Matthew 13:1-9

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

-

The meaning is found in Matthew 13:18-23

18“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

You read all of that for me to instruct you about the things that can hinder or halt our personal spiritual growth and walk with God. Not one of us is perfect this side of heaven, but we continue daily. We sometimes slip, at other times, we fall. But do we kick ourselves when we're down? Do we wallow in self-pity thinking we are beyond all hope? Sadly, some do. But I want to encourage you today, search your soil. Are you planting on stony ground? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the "stones" that hinder you from being deeply rooted in the Truth of God's Word. Is your garden becoming overrun by weeds, thorns, and thistles? The cares of this life can seem overwhelming. At times, we let those things hinder our growth in God. We have to take care of everyone else and don't make the time to cultivate the garden of spiritual growth in our own souls. I encourage you, clear a path. Make time in your busy schedule to sit and read His Word. Meditate on all He has done for you, and all He is going to do in your life. And if your soil is good, let it keep producing fruit, so that others can be blessed by your sharing of the good news and all He has accomplished in your life. We overcome by the Word of God and by our testimonies.

It's all for His glory!

Be blessed by being a blessing