-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Archives
Categories
Power of Choice (Part 4) using the Parable of Soils
Written by on December 27, 2013
This study is taking longer than anticipated, as we can tell I’m a newbie at blogging. For any experienced bloggers out there, I could use the tips on getting thoughts and studies from notes into a coherent document quickly.
Lets recap what we have learned before with this parable:
- Posting 1: We covered the back drop in which Jesus delivers the parable and the purpose of a parable.
- Posting 2: We covered why the Parable of Soils needed to be understood first, who is the sower, how to scatter of seed, and expounded the first soil which is wayside.
- Posting 3: We covered the stony ground, its meaning and application to our lives.
Thorny Soil
In this posting we will cover the thorny soil, and the good soil. Jesus says describes the meaning of the thorny soil as thus, “Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” (Mark 4:18-19)
Again, in this scripture we are talking about believers. These are poeple who have heard the Word of God; and through their choice does not allow it to change their lives.
Weeds
In gardening, there are times when you plant, and weeds begin to grow with the planted seed. When weeding a garden, you must ensure that you get the roots out with the weed; else the weed will continue to grow. Weeds are very strong and forceful. Wherever there are weeds, they take over the good plants. The strong roots of the weeds use up all the nutrients in the soil, and the plants are left with nothing. These plants barely grow at all; they don’t produce fruit or vegetables.
Application
Looking further at this verse, it speaks to me that we as Christians need to be viligant and and covet our relationship with Christ. I believe this one of single greatest danger facing Christians itoday. We are in a society that is instant and provide a sensory overload. It is easy to be distracted with a new cause, the news, social media, etc. It becomes difficult to take the time to be still, pray, read the Scriptures, and commune with God.
When we put our pleasures (not activities defined as sin in the Bible), passions, and hobbies before God, we become guilty of idolatry. We are allowing us to be separated God. The first commandment God gave to Israel was to have no other gods before Him (Exodus 20:3). It is not the object, the passion, cause, or person; but it is the place we give that object.
One of the things I have learned is an idol may not be just a thing, it can be a person. Do we put our children, family, or friends before Christ? We know that in Exodus 20:5, the scriptures says that God is a jealous God. He will not, and should not, have to compete for our time, affection, and worship. We are to love him more than anything (Mark 12:28 –30; 1John 2:15).
Good Soil
In contrast with the other soils, Jesus describes the fourth soil as, “But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” Mark 4:20. On this soil, the seed a crop 100, 60, or 30 times more than what was planted.
Luke says: ‘But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.’ (Luke 8:15) When a farmer sows his seed, he does so with one aim in mind—to reap a harvest.
God expects the Word in Christians to bear fruit. God expects to reap a harvest from the spiritual seed, that is fruit of his Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galations 5:22-23)
That fruit or crop takes time to grow and is produced as a Christian matures. It comes as we allow the Word of God and the Spirit of God to change us. Again its a choice. We won’t all yield the same amount of fruit for God, but we can all produce a crop if we persevere.
Application
This soil represents believers who allowed the Word of God to penetrate their hearts, change them, and allow God to have control. That is the real power, choosing to give it all to God; surrendering all. Reminds me of verses from the hymn I surrender all:
1. All to Jesus I surrender; all to him I freely give; I will ever love and trust him, in his presence daily live.
2. All to Jesus I surrender; humbly at his feet I bow, worldly pleasures all forsaken; take me, Jesus, take me now.
3. All to Jesus I surrender; make me, Savior, wholly thine; fill me with thy love and power; truly know that thou art mine.
Chorus: I surrender all, I surrender all, all to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.
Choose to put your trust in Jesus. But just like when you plant actual seeds into the ground, the message of the kingdom will grow gradually. True growth takes time. The same is true in the hearts of believers. We are all expected to have fruit, but not the same fruit.
There are people who hear the same truth, read the same Bible, grow to the same church, but produce different kinds of fruit. Some are missionaries, some are givers, some are evangelists, and some develop overwhelming compassion. Everyone’s fruit will look different, but if each person allows God’s truth to grow in their heart, it will be the right kind of fruit: kingdom fruit.