Devotion:
Read Luke 8:4-8, 11-15.
This parable of the Farmer, the Seeds, and the Soils was probably one of the first of Jesus’ parables. The farmer is our Lord. The seeds are the words of God. The soil is the human heart. Four kinds of soil are mentioned, which tells about the distinct ways which the word is heard and touches people’s hearts. The hard ground represents the person who hears the Word, but does not believe or take it into their heart. The stony ground signifies the hearer who may superficially take in the Word and profess their life to God, but when difficult times come, they stray away. The thorny ground are those hearers who hear the Word but let culture and worldly possessions choke out God’s way of life. Then there are the good ground hearers who listen to the Word, are receptive, and fruitful for God’s Kingdom. Much spreading of the Word can produce vast harvests of people for Jesus Christ.
Growing up, I had wonderful soil in both senses of this parable. The dirt on our farm was rich and produced good crops when the rain cooperated. I also had people around me that cared about me, made sure that I heard God’s word, and that my heart was open to grow in faith. My Sunday School teachers were dedicated to helping me cultivate and prepare my soil. That was a huge task!
Personal Worship Option:
Lessons from this parable: We must pay close attention to what we hear. Hearts need to be prepared before they can receive the message of the Word. We should not get discouraged when the results of spreading the Gospel seem small. If we adhere to Jesus’ teaching, we will be His disciples.
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