Seeds of SpringSample

PREPARE THE SOIL

Read Luke 8:9-15.

Jesus continued on through the villages, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. People from town after town came to Him. When he saw the large crowd, He told them a parable. Many were following Jesus. Out of those who would listen, Jesus described how the seed, His word, would fall on four different kinds of hearts: Some fell along the path. And some fell on the rock. And some fell among thorns. And some fell onto good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.

Jesus then called out to all of them saying: "He who has ears to hear let him hear." Only those with one type of heart could truly hear. Clearly, some don't listen at all. But of those who would listen, few would genuinely hear.

J.C. Ryle comments it is a parable of universal application. The things it relates to are continually going on in every congregation wherever the gospel is preached. The four kinds of hearts that it describes are to be found in every assembly that hears the word. These factors should make us read the parable very carefully. We should say to ourselves, as we read it, "This concerns me. My heart is seen in this parable. I, too, am here." He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Our heart is represented in one of these. Ask the Lord this week to help you see the condition of your heart. Praise God for bringing His word to you. Confess your need for His Spirit to reveal the true condition of your heart. Thank God for drawing you close to Him. Ask God to help your heart be humble and ready to receive His truth. Ask Him to help you bear a full harvest of righteousness.