Read Matthew 13:1-9
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
1 On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea.
2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore.
3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying, “Consider the sower who went out to sow.
4 As he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.
5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep.
6 But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it.
8 Still other seed fell on good ground and produced fruit: some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown.
9 Let anyone who has ears listen.” -- Matthew 13:1-9 (CSB)
Jesus desires for His followers to have hearts (soil) that yield a harvest.
What is the present condition of your heart? In Jesus’ parable, He talks about four kinds of soil (hearts):
(1) A calloused heart. This person lacks spiritual and ministerial expectations, goes through the motions, and relates to God with a selfish agenda.
(2) A shallow heart. This person is often immature in the faith and busy in ministry. It’s possible to be a mile wide and an inch deep.
(3) A distracted heart. This person battles the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth.
(4) A productive heart. This person lives his or her life to fulfill God’s mission.
In order to plant a garden, the ground (soil), must first be broken. If you desire to yield a spiritual harvest, brokenness is often what God uses. Are you willing to be broken for God’s glory? What is currently breaking your heart and spirit? What kind of soil are you?
