Parable of the Sower:
"A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold." As he said theses things, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
- Luke 8:5-8
Parable of the Sower Explained:
In this parable, the seed is referring to the word of God. Depending on the kind of soil (people) that the seed (word of God) is planted in, the seed may or may not grow into good fruit (a regenerated heart that loves the Lord and lives according to his message).
Seeds on the Path - Those who hear the word but the devil snatches it away from their hearts.
Seeds on the Rock - Those who receive God's word with joy, but have no root. In time and testing, they fall away.
Seeds Among Thorns - Those who hear but they end up getting choked by the cares, riches, and pleasures of life so that they never mature or bear fruit.
Seed on Good Soil - Those who hear the word, receive it, and hold fast to it in their heart. They bear good fruit with patience.
God desires for his people to receive his message, the Gospel, and to hold fast to it, bearing fruit out of a changed heart and life. But as the Parable of the Sower explains, unless his word is planted in "good soil," it cannot be believed, held onto, or lived out.
Join me in pondering what it means to be "good soil" and pray that God would help us to be the kind of soil, in our heart, mind, and soul, that would receive his word and cling to it. May we receive his word with joy and thanksgiving and produce good fruit with our lives out of the abundance of a life saved and forever changed through Christ.