Good Soil

"Hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what is sown along the path. As for what is sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for awhile, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and it proves unfruitful. 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." Matthew 13:13-23

A couple of evenings ago, some friends of mine were asking about my compost pile. They were curious as to what I put in it- vegetable scraps, old-gross fruits and veggies, old coffee grounds, egg shells, fallen leaves, etc. We were also discussing how certain animal feces are good for your lawn and others are not. It's interesting to me that trash, feces, and death (when you plant corn you usually add dead fish) create good soil.

Yet, as I read this passage of scripture it makes sense, especially when you look at those who "receive it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for awhile, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away". How can we allow God's word to take root in our lives if we have not suffered and can then say God is good, despite it.

I want to create good soil in my heart. I believe that it means for me to experience death: those areas in myself that cry out for my sake, but not for the sake of others. Here is an example- I am not organized or able to live out of a schedule, but my husband and kids need it. They feel more secure and comfortable within routines. I could easily fight for my right to enjoy days the way I like them, or I can kill that part of myself and see how Jesus can give me life.

I also believe that I must give the trash and scraps of my life over to God, so that He can reuse it to create rich soil. Sometimes I find that I hold onto trash, believing that it is treasure. Isn't it amazing the lies we think to be true?

Are you like me, do you also have areas of your life that you are hording? You just can't seem to clean out the clutter of your heart? Release them so that God can provide you with good soil, without rich earth, His words will be meaningless and you will be swept away to the world.

Yoke

"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Do you fully understand what a yoke is? A yoke cannot work unless there is one ox that leads and one that submits. If there are two leading oxen they will become immobilized, because the yoke will not allow them to go in separate directions. Yet there cannot be two submitting oxen because they will just stand there and not move. I am sure you get the picture now... to be equally yoked one must follow and one must lead.

This works the same way as we follow Christ and the authorities that He has placed in our lives, be it our husbands, employers, or pastors. As the bride of Christ we must submit to Him and the life He has called us to. A life of yielding ourselves to Him.

He says take my yoke and learn from Him, and what is He? He is gentle and lowly. Am I learning that? How am I becoming gentle and lowly? Maybe I am not learning at all because I am not moving- Jesus is attempting to take me one way yet I am trying to go the other, but really we're just standing still in my disobedience.

Are you moving with Jesus, following Him and taking the time to learn from Him? Or is fear or rebellion or pride immobilizing you?

I believe we will know by the fruit our life is bearing.

Matthew 12:33-35 says, "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil the treasure brings forth evil things."

What fruit is being revealed? Can you see your life producing fruit of submission or the fruit of standing still?