In Matthew 13, Jesus tells a story about a man who went out to plant seed in his field. In the custom of that time, he would fling the seed around over the field, but not all of it fell on the nice fertile ground. Some seed fell on the pathway along the edge of the field. The birds immediately ate this seed. Other seed fell on stony ground and it began to grow, but it didn't last long because it didn't have any depth of ground to grow in. Still other seed fell among thorns, but the thorns choked the life out of the good seed. Best of all, some seed fell on good ground and it grew and produced fruit, some more and some less.
This story challenged me to examine my life. What kind of ground is my life. Am I the wayside that is so hardened to truth that it never really penetrates my life? I have gone to church all my life. I have gone to a Christian school. I have Christian parents. Have I heard so much Bible teaching that I've become hardened to it? Or, am I like the stony ground? I get excited when I learn new Bible truths or hear of some new opportunity to serve God, but does by zeal last? Sometimes I feel like the thorny ground. I hear God's Word, but I am so busy with work and life in general that the Word gets choked out. Maybe I'm distracted during church by thinking about my plans for the coming week, or I read my Bible and my mind isn't really on what I'm reading. Lord, help me to be like the good ground. Help me to hear your Word with gladness and respond by bringing forth fruit for You. Help me not to let Your Word get choked out by the cares of this life. Help me to open to whatever You have for my life.
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