The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "GOOD SOIL" for Friday, 2 September 2016 with Scripture: Luke 8:4-8

The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "GOOD SOIL" for Friday, 2 September 2016 with Scripture: Luke 8:4 After a large crowd had gathered from the people who kept coming to him from town after town, Yeshua told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell along the path and was stepped on, and the birds flying around ate it up. 6 Some fell on rock; and after it sprouted, it dried up from lack of moisture. 7 Some fell in the midst of thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 But some fell into rich soil, and grew, and produced a hundred times as much as had been sown.” After saying this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear with, let him hear!”
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Other seed fell on rock. As it grew, it dried up because it had no moisture.[Luke 8:6 (CEB)]
As I prepared the soil for spring planting, the parable of the sower came to mind. I remembered times when I had tried to plant a garden in hard, rocky soil. Few seeds were able to survive and grow. I needed to bring in compost and sand to mix into the soil. Each year, I have found areas of the garden that have become depleted, needing to be enriched.
Jesus used the parable in today’s reading to help the disciples understand that not everyone would accept their teachings. The soil of some listeners’ hearts was in no condition for seeds to grow and thrive. By the same token, our hearts are not always good soil. We can never assume they are rich and fertile. Life’s experiences can help prepare our hearts to grow and mature, to become the soil God needs for planting the seeds. But we also need ongoing prayer, Bible study, and Christian fellowship to keep our hearts rich and fertile.
The pleasure I receive as I watch my garden thrive pales when compared to the pleasure God receives as the kingdom grows and blossoms.
The Author: Madeline Peterson (Nebraska, USA)
Thought for the Day: God’s word can enrich my heart.
Prayer: Dear Lord, prepare our hearts for the planting of your word. Amen.
Prayer focus: SOIL CONSERVATIONISTS
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