Matthew 13:1-8 NIV (The Parable of the Seeds)
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.
2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.
3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
Jesus was using this Parable to describe our hearts, and the condition that they can be in at any given time.
1) A HARD GROUND-SHUT HEART.
Matthew 13:19 "When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart."
This is the type of heart that people have who find God irrelevant. They do not allow the truth of the Lord to get inside. They put up a wall, and reject Him. They can have a negative idea of God, or anger toward Him.They have no intention whatsoever of following Him. They don't have room in their lives, minds or hearts to let Him in. They don't care anything about God, or whether He is real or not. They can not absorb any truth being shown to them.
Have you ever been in a situation where you were trying to make a friend or get to know someone that had absolutely zero interest in you? And no matter how many times you tried to be kind that person or go out of your way for them, they pretty much treated you like you didn't exist? Maybe you have never done anything wrong to this person, but they were determined that their life just had no room in it for you. I know I have....and the rejection can be painful. But see, they have hardness in their hearts.
In the same way, God loves and seeks out every person. He loves, is interested in, and wants a relationship with us all so badly. But there is no room for Him in the lives of those who's heart has been shut. And like the seeds that have fallen on the path (or roadside)....the truth can only touch the surface, but is quickly lost.
2) A SHALLOW GROUND-SHALLOW HEART.
Matthew 13:20 "The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away."
People with this type of heart are often open and receptive to truth initially. They "flirt" with idea of Jesus and following Him. But they have no true commitment. When testing comes, and things get a little hard...they bail. They only want to have a relationship with God if everything is always good and they way that they want it be. Like God is Santa Clause, and only good to believe in if they get everything they want all the time. And if anything He asks of them becomes challenging or outside of their comfort zone, they quit. And they go from having a shallow heart to having a hard heart.
Did I not just describe a relationship or friendship you have ever had that involved someone selfish (all take and no give)?? How successful are those type of relationships? See...God wants to bless us, and He does willingly...but in our relationship with Him we are required to be obedient to His word, and sometimes that can place us in a position of vulnerability, where we have to trust Him even if things are not going a way that we like. But often times, people find that concept too scary, and wind up rejecting God in the end, because they find more safety in continue what works best for them.
They are just like seeds that fall on the shallow ground...absorbing the truth and blooming quickly, but when heat or "trials" come...they are not rooted deep enough, and whither away quickly.
3) A CHOKED GROUND -INHOSPITABLE HEART.
Matthew 13:22 "The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful."
These are people who's hearts are cluttered, occupied, and have no vacancy. Their priorities do not include God. They are focused on things that bring them pleasure , and happiness...and reject a relationship with God because they feel like allowing Him in will mean they have to give up things that matter to them. They are only interested in God if He doesn't "mess with" whats good or important to them. They have limitations to the relationship they are willing to have. They put conditions on God, and they make Him a superficial thing. And if He doesn't fit into the mold they have, their hearts grow hard.
And like the seeds that fall among the thorns, they choke out the truth of the Lord with their own two hands.
4) GOOD GROUND-CHANGED/RECEPTIVE HEART.
Matthew 13:23 "But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Theses are the people who's hearts are open, and prepared. Who absorb the truth of the Lord deep down inside, and allow their relationship with Him to be so important, and deep rooted in their hearts, that their is no storm that can kill it, not trial that can whither it, no priority that can overshadow and choke it out. These are the heart that the people of God have that will bear fruit, not only in their own lives, but in the lives of others as a blessing. They allow God to work in and through them...and plant seeds wherever they go. You see the evidence of God in their lives. And others are impacted by God through them.
The condition of your heart determines your path in this life.
"One should bear all hardship so as to be prepared for the test of ease"
I hope, my friends that you look at yourself, as I have today...recognize the type of heart you have vs the type of heart you want. God promises that those who root themselves deep in relationship with Him, will have blessings, courage, strength, and Heaven in their present and future.
I hope you make room in your hearts for Him.
Love and Light,
Kate
