“And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
This is one of my favorite parables that Jesus uses because He shows us the importance of our acceptance. He says, 'the good soil represents those who HEAR and ACCEPT God's word...' We all have a choice in life and as we hear the Good News and surrender our will, God transforms our thinking and change takes place.
The seed that fell on the footpath are people that hear the word but don't have any interest at that point and they stay focused on the world. The seed that fell on the rocky soil are people willing to hear and are excited about the word but life is too overwhelming for them and they don't understand that their choice to grow is important to sustain that joy. The seed that fell among the thorns are people who hear but they get worried with everything in life and they never move from where they started and life outweighs the truth. All three had the same thing in common, hearing, but just hearing didn't make any difference in their lives.
Whenever we have a partnership or desire something we want to be a part of, passion should be seen. We want to accept it and work our best to make it ours. This is why it is so important for us to HEAR and ACCEPT His word and co-labor with Him to keep it fertilized. As we seek Him we find Him and as we find Him roots grow deeper into our hearts and the fertile soil produces fruit and life. Life being, fully devoted followers of Jesus. The thing we need to remember is soil isn't cultivated once and then good for every harvest. It is worked and fertilized over and over, just like it is with our relationship with the Lord. (Don't get me wrong, you don't have to earn salvation over and over, that is a free gift and why Jesus came.) We cultivate the soil so we grow and are able to be used to reach others for Christ. When our soil is bad we don't grow and if we don't grow we die. If we keep this process of death going it is harder for us to understand the Love God has for us.
Paul says in Philippians 2:12 "Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.” When we are not a part of our walk with the Lord our soil is corrupted by rocks and weeds and our minds struggle with our own thoughts and not the ones that lead to life. We can never be satisfied with what we know, as we seek and are willing to change we grow and it is seen in our fruit. Read Mark chapter 4 verse 20 again, “And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Amen