PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Mark 4:13-20
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Others like seed sown on good soil hear the word and produce a crop.” (Mark 4:20)
In this story Jesus shows how God’s message can fail to produce a good crop.
Some people reject it right away, but many people receive it.
But of those who receive it, not all of them truly experience it.
For some, God’s message doesn’t go deep, and it dies under pressure.
For others, it is choked out by the worries and pleasures of life.
God’s desire is to use Jesus’ words to transform us, make us ‘very good’ again.
According to Jesus the problem is not in the seed but in the soil.
If the heart is not open, receptive, eager, it will not produce a crop.
“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica,
for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures
every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11)
What kind of soil am I, what kind of result does God’s message have in me?
Is Jesus’ message making me more generous, self-controlled, forgiving, patient?
The Lord is eager to produce a crop of goodness in me… am I?
PRAYER
Lord, I hear You challenging me about ways that I am closed to Your Voice. Even now I can think of some specific ways Satan is deceiving or distracting me. Lord help me.
I get choked at times- it sometimes prevents me from being all that I could be for Jesus. I need the HS’s empowerment so that I can truly live for Jesus. Empower me I pray – and don’t let the concerns or affluence or busyness of life choke me – I pray.
Good soil.
Good fruit.
The plant needs food and water in order to produce good fruit.
As the Psalmist says, I need to be planted and rooted by the water so that my roots go down and in all times I am producing good fruit. I need to be rooted in His Word give me the nutrients I need in my daily living for Jesus.
Good morning Lord. Let me walk with You this day as You lead and guide me.
When we walk with the Lord in the light of his Word
What a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will, he abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.