And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth, and keepeth it, and bringeth forth fruit (Mark 4:20)
One day, I bought a book on gardening and got some good advice, "Take care of the soil, and don't worry about the plants. If the soil is good, every seed will take root and grow."
Through the parable of the sower in Mark 4, Jesus spoke of the importance of "good soil". He mentions good soil to describe people who “hear” the word of God, “receive it,” and “bear fruit” (verse 20). If we keep our hearts tender and open, then God's word will take root, grow, and bear fruit.
According to gardening theory, life is in the seeds. Under the right conditions, the seed will grow to maturity and bear fruit. In the same way, the seed of the word planted in good soil, namely an open heart, will grow until the character of Jesus is revealed.
For Christians, the power of spiritual life comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit. If we open our hearts to the word, with a deep desire to obey it, then the Holy Spirit will make us grow and bear fruit (Galatians 5:22,23).
We cannot make ourselves grow, just as we cannot force the growth of seeds in our gardens. However, we can care for the soil, by keeping our hearts soft, open, and obedient to God's word. So in the end, we too will bear the fruit of righteousness.
What kind of soil is your heart? --David Roper
A HEART THAT IS OPEN TO GOD
IS THE LAND WHERE THE SEEDS OF GOD'S WORD GROW FERTILE
IS THE LAND WHERE THE SEEDS OF GOD'S WORD GROW FERTILE
*) Take from Daily Meditation