Over the next few days I have decided to explore some of the parables in the Bible. Personally, I love that Jesus used parables to teach. The way He taught Kingdom principles was by relating them to something that makes sense to His audience. I see it as a brilliant teaching method. He never sat people down (other than pharisees) and told them they were living their life wrong, but He gave them a method to draw their conclusions. So, I am interested in looking into Jesus' parables over the next few days.
Luke 8:4-15
And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
Fortunately enough, this parable is explained by Jesus Himself. This is a very important parable in respects to our Christian lifestyle. We should be in a constant state of growth, but how do we do that if we cannot align our lives with the word? What is your reaction when you hear the word? Do you forget it right away and dismiss it, letting Satan take it from you? Are you unrooted and apply the word to your life only until things start to get complicated? Or are you someone who finds this world more appealing and lets that seed be choked?
I think, if we are honest, most of us don't have good soil most of the time. We forget to apply things to our life, are noncommittal to Jesus when hard times come along, and we are distracted by the pleasures of the world. It is a constant battle between flesh and spirit. Be aware of how you are receiving a word next time. Instead of forgetting about it, meditate on it and really think about how it applies to you personally and what changes should be made to align accordingly. This is how we develop good soil. Strive for good soil and watch the fruits of it emerge in your life.
Luke 8:4-15
And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
Fortunately enough, this parable is explained by Jesus Himself. This is a very important parable in respects to our Christian lifestyle. We should be in a constant state of growth, but how do we do that if we cannot align our lives with the word? What is your reaction when you hear the word? Do you forget it right away and dismiss it, letting Satan take it from you? Are you unrooted and apply the word to your life only until things start to get complicated? Or are you someone who finds this world more appealing and lets that seed be choked?
I think, if we are honest, most of us don't have good soil most of the time. We forget to apply things to our life, are noncommittal to Jesus when hard times come along, and we are distracted by the pleasures of the world. It is a constant battle between flesh and spirit. Be aware of how you are receiving a word next time. Instead of forgetting about it, meditate on it and really think about how it applies to you personally and what changes should be made to align accordingly. This is how we develop good soil. Strive for good soil and watch the fruits of it emerge in your life.
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