The Soil of Life
And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away. Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear." Matt 13:3-9
I find this well known parable of Jesus is as much about the types of soil as it is about the seed and the process of seeding. The soil in this parable represents the type of soul present in the person you encounter. This blog may seem simple to you, but asking the Lord to help you determine what type of “soil” does this person have will determine what to share in the way of “seed”. I find it a life long challenge and dependence upon His Spirit to help in this endeavour. Let me share some thoughts.
There is a need for softening of the soil before God’s grace can take hold. This is the place of prevenient grace where God’s Spirit works in the heart of another. I hear Him saying to me, “This is where I need you to work with Me. You are My hands and feet on earth. I have called you to work with me in preparing the soil, just like you do every spring in your garden. You are sitting in the midst of beauty this morning, David, because you have turned the soil, added compost, pulled weeds, watered, and then planted seeds. It is no different in the spiritual life. You are to help Me prepare the soil of other’s heart. When you sense a hard heart (vs 4), like that found on the pathway, give words of encouragement and insight. When you sense emptiness (vs5 & 6), add appropriate spiritual truths (compost) to their life so they start to look beyond themselves and look to God, the Giver of Life. When you sense things that are choking their lives (vs 7), gently help remove those “weeds” without pulling out the spiritual “seed”. When you start to see spiritual changes developing in their life, water them with supportive spiritual truth and encouragement. And finally, when you see openness to their need for God (vs 8), plant the gospel because I am already working in their heart. By planting the gospel, you are helping them to intellectually understand the changes I am doing in their lives.”
My friend, you may say this work is beyond my ability to do. If that be the case, you have spoken the truth. God only asks us to do parts of it while others do other parts. His Spirit will guide you in your part.
It is of note that the seed on rocky soil sprang up quickly but did not last. ....it sprang up quickly. Are there times when a person is receptive to the gospel but not yet ready? Can the response to the gospel be premature in some lives? Is there a place for cultivating spiritual truths hence preparing the soil before the good news is presented so it can take hold? I do believe so.
Without the realization of who Father God is, without the realization of who a person truly is, without the realization of an empty inner life, without the realization of my inability to correct or direct my own life, without the realization that there are invisible, eternal heart values, the soil is not prepared and it will not take root. It may accept the gift of Christ and His grace, but it will not be sustainable in one’s life. The work of preparing a person’s spiritual life takes time and it takes community. Spiritual growth does not occur overnight, nor does it develop through the influence of just one significant other. It requires long exposure over time and, in most cases, it requires community. I hear God saying to me, “Get to work. Prepare the spiritual soil in people. With each encounter with people, ask the question, ‘What is God doing in this life?’ Then listen to what they are saying from a spiritual perspective and share what God is telling you to share. Look for deepening of spiritual awareness. Listen for their changing of perspective on eternal truths. This takes time, David. I have asked you to sow and that is more than spreading seed, not just sow the truth of saving grace, but the truths of God’s complete grace. And when the time comes to present the gospel, it will be completed with little effort on your part because the changing of heart will have been done by Me.”
Lord, I find the choked seed most bothersome in my Canadian society. Your love and presence have been choked by past church institutions and members. It has been choked by the mis-representation of Your Word through our media, political dependency, religious standards, and our art culture. It has been choked by the “busyness” of our lives in the pursuit of pleasure, work, wealth, and “things”. It has been choked by reliance on our own ability to achieve goals. It has been choked by not finding the time to listen for Your Voice. It has been choked by the pressures to conform to societal standards. Help us to start pulling out those weeds that are present in our own lives and help us to start pulling out those weeds around us in our neighbourhood so others can breathe anew the life You give.
Thank you, Lord for those lives who have come to know Your complete grace. That grace which removes us from the worldview which can only be described as a “bottomless pit”. That grace which removes our separation from You. And that grace which sustains us daily.
May I continue to work the soil of my soul to keep it pliable and receptive to Your Truth. May my daily drinking in of Your Word, my daily listening to Your Voice, my daily working with You produce more “good” fruit as I grow in You. May the understanding of Your love deepen and manifest itself in new ways with each new day. May the realization of Your presence mature and grow as I walk this walk of faith. You know what needs to be worked on next, dear Lord. I think I know what needs work, but it may not be appropriate for this time. You know what is needing change now. Help me to keep the soil of my soul prepared and receptive for the work You are doing. I desire more of Your fruit in my life as I mature in You.
But this fruit is not only for me to partake in. Fruit is meant for another to enjoy and find sustenance from. May this be so in my life, Lord. Only yesterday, my wife, received a cheery “Hello” from a passerby in the mall. She responded with a surprised, “Hello?” The stranger asked why she seemed surprised and after my wife inquired why he greeted her, he went on to explain by saying, “Your personae is whole.” CS Lewis states it something like this; “Anyone coming within 3 feet of a Christian cannot help but encounter the presence of God.” It is this grace of God in our lives which radiates, even to a stranger... and it is the fruit (grain) which God creates in our life. May it multiply hundred fold, sixty fold, thirty fold. May the manifestation of Your Grace move those I encounter today one step closer to a complete commitment and enfolding of their lives into Your grace.