As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. Luke 8:15
I have never been much of a Gardner; I just do not have a green thumb. I do pretty good with some plants though. I have several green plants in my home and they have managed to survive!
The past few months I have no doubt this is where the Lord has been talking to me the most and that is paying more attention to what I plant. The Bible says God will harvest the seeds we plant in time. “In time” Let’s think about this, when we actually plant a seed in soil it does not pop up overnight it takes time to grow right? Okay lets think about the verse up there in Luke 8:15 it starts out stating “in the good soil” starting out we have to have a good foundation for the seed which is we have to have good soil in order for the seed flourish and produce a good plant. I think what God is telling us is that we have to have good solid foundation. What is the foundation? It is God of course! His word is the seed we plant it in the ground and he will produce good fruit on his time table. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Luke 8:11
Think about a farmer, he works hard in the field tilling the ground enriching the soil making sure that when he plants his seeds it will produce a harvest that he will reap a reward from. This is the same for us as children of God, our starting point which is the foundation is the Lord then we learn his word, live it, and speak his word so that others can also reap the reward that his son has to offer us.
A friend of mine once said, “If you’re unhappy, you’re probably thinking about yourself too much. Jesus Christ said that if we lose ourselves in his service, then we will find ourselves (Matt. 10:39). I know from personal experience that this is very true. When we are looking for something in return and complain to God then we are in it for all the wrong reasons. We are in it for ourselves and what we will get out of it. Although in our frame of mind we think God should reward us because we have done a good deed. You do a good deed because it makes you happy when you try to help others; most of all you do it to please the Lord. When we try to do something good instead of complaining about the bad; this is when we truly help the world become a better place.
This is furthering his kingdom right here on earth what will be your excuse when you meet him face to face or the reasons as to why you did not plant better seeds? Bottom line is you are thinking too much about yourself. Ask yourself this every day.....what if Jesus had that attitude? Would he have gone to the cross? Where would you be today if he thought of only himself?
Sowing seeds is not that complicated we find our ground where God needs us to be and take the seeds which is his word and plant them. Not for what we will get out of it. Do it for the sheer joy of serving others most of all do it to serve the Lord and he in his own time will harvest that field. There is much more in your relationship with God than just obtaining something. He is teaching you something, molding you, helping you grow, into who he needs you to be not for the world but for his kingdom. Jesus left this world so that he could go prepare a place for us. Have we really given any thought to what that means? Do not miss the character growth he is trying to show you. He is changing you, and you have to be receptive to that, you have to see him in everything you do. Who you are is worth more to him than any material thing you can gain in this world. He has an eternity for you and he wants you to reap the rewards in heaven not here on earth. Think about that today when you start seeing a harvest grow in your life make sure you ask yourself what you can do for someone else, what you can do without, so someone else can have. How can I reflect my Lord Jesus, do I keep all this to myself or do I sacrifice it all?
Always remember that knowledge for self gain is dangerous and destructive. Gaining knowledge for our own benefit is not living a Christian life. We learn it, believe it, live it, and when we do this we are being a testimony to others. Show others what God has done for you, the Gospel means “good news” and we are to spread it! God is all giving, and he has sacrificed so much for us.
God wants us to have our garden back but he has a lot of mending to do in the process he is making sure all the weeds are out of our lives and making sure we understand him and his word. So be patient and remember “in time” we will reap what we sow, be observant to what you do plant. Know scripture so you know that you are planting what God wants not Satan. The world is made up of two things “good and bad” make sure you plant good seeds not for what you will obtain but what will bring Glory to God!
Amen
© Shannon Wendler
© Shannon Wendler