Reflections on LifeSample

A seed lies waiting, waiting for the right conditions, the right time. A seed goes from dormancy to life after being buried in good soil to emerge as a new identity, an identity that will grow and produce fruit and more seed. A seed can lie dormant for many years just sitting waiting for the right conditions – light, water, temperature, soil conditions.

In the Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:4-8 ESV), Jesus is teaching us about a well-known concept of sowing a seed into good soil. Matthew 13:23 tells us that “As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Today sowing seed is a lost skill – how many of you have sown a seed recently? The knowledge of good soil, the right conditions or season have been forgotten. Before sowing a seed, we need to prepare the soil, this takes time. Many of us now don’t know about preparation of good soil; we are just used to going to the supermarket and purchasing the bag of peas (hundreds of seeds).

In the parable the different soils represent the different hearts of people. How can we prepare the hearts (soil) of people? The soil needs to be prepared before we sow any seed. Good soil needs digging over whether by a spade or a plough and rotary hoe and even once the seed is sown the soil needs tilling to allow air into the roots and keep the weeds from spoiling the crop. This preparation is best achieved with LOVE. LOVE is the spade or hoe that turns the soil. It is the love for people that allows the heart (soil) become ready for the seed to be sown that will take root, grow and produce a harvest. So, before we share the Word of God (the seed) with someone, check the soil, have you prepared it with LOVE? Before you read the Word of God for yourself, check your soil (heart): is it prepared well with LOVE for Him and yourself?

Challenge:

Till the soil of your heart and others with LOVE. Generously plough and hoe the soil with His Words of LOVE that have been written for you and about you. Share the word with LOVE.