Jesus told a story about a farmer. This individual sowed seeds upon the ground. The birds of the air snatched some of the seeds up quickly. Other seeds fell upon rocky soil. They took root but then dried up in the scorching heat of the sun. Still, thorns choked others. The last group of seeds fell upon good soil. These sprouted, flourished, and brought forth abundant fruit.
The seed in this story represents the Word of God sown into the soil of men's hearts. The first group signifies individuals who hear the Word but allow Satan to steal it from their hearts. Those who have hearts like rocky soil receive the Word with joy, but when trouble or persecution comes, they withdraw. Those that have hearts overcome by thorns allow the Word of God sown into their hearts to be choked by a love for money and worldly desires.
Then there are those who have hearts that understand and obey the Word. They allow the Lord to turn their hearts into gardens that bring forth a harvest within them. The truth is, we have a choice as to how we will respond to God's Word. When we hear it, we have a decision whether or not to accept it ...whether or not to put it into practice.
We can choose, through the help of the Holy Spirit, to resist the devil when he tries to steal God's Word from us. We can turn from shallow living and learn to endure. We can run from carnal desires and embrace Jesus' way of living. We can seek God for revelation, knowledge, and wisdom and choose to obey Him completely. By doing these things, we decide to have an abundant harvest. We actually can choose our destiny in God.
Receive God's grace and ability. Live empowered lives and choose to receive and obey God's Word. Then enjoy great spiritual success, and the harvest within you will spread to many. We will become sowers of the word ourselves.
(Photo courtesy of morguefile and johninportland.)
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Tom Toya is a graduate of Jerry Jenkin’s Christian Writers Guild and has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Benedictine University. He lives with his beautiful wife and his handsome Maltese in the Chicagoland area. He has had articles published by Christian Devotions, Inspire a Fire, Alive Magazine, The Upper Room, CBN, Live Magazine, God’s Word for Today, Gospel Today Magazine, and the Morris Daily Herald. He is a marketing director for a caregiving agency and loves to play the guitar and sing. You can read more of his writing by visiting his blog at sendme-tomandlou.blogspot.com.