The Parable of the Sower

The Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13

That same day, Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that He got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then, He told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Some fell on rocky places where not much soil was. The plants sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still, other seeds fell on good soil, where it produced a crop-- a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 

As we clearly see in the parable, the different types of soil are the different types of people who hear the Word of God. They all differ in their capabilities of growing their seeds to full maturity. The hard ground represents those who have hardened hearts toward scripture and have no roots to keep them steady when storms come. The rocky soil represents the person who has knowledge of the Word, yet is not strongly rooted. When trouble comes, the roots are unable to withstand the wind. The thorny soil represents the person who knows the Word, but is so hardened by sin and pride that they cannot withstand the trials of life and make it out alive. The fertile soil represents the person who has heard the Word of God, carries their cross daily, and bears much fruit from the rich and rooted soil.

Which soil are you?

Listen, my friends, God has been stretching my heart on this very subject for a long time. In fact, He has asked me to write a whole book on it, which I have been working on for about a year and a half. I have learned so much this last year about God and His desires for my life. To be completely transparent with you, I have lived many years of my life as the rocky soil. Growing up, I had every opportunity to grow spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. I knew the right answers to say and write. I knew the Word of God almost like the back of my hand, but I didn't produce much fruit due to my shallow roots. When trouble came, I was uprooted and felt like a lion whose mane, his greatest source of pride, was stripped away. When the storms came, the winds trampled me over. I wasn't connected to the vine that would keep my heart steady or deeply rooted in the soil that would produce much fruit. 

I could have been the fertile soil. I could have been connected to the vine. 

You see, God has been pulling on my heart for several years now about what it means to live in a constant state of surrender. I have known the pain of being the rocky soil. Have you? As several years now have passed, I have seen Him not only multiply the fruit in my own life, but reach into the deepest part of my soul and make everything new once again. My heart is under constant construction. So is yours.

Go, bear much fruit, and abide in the vine.  

1 John 15:5-8

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.