The season I love the most is spring. Spring comes after the winter and it doesn’t matter how brutal the winter season is, spring follows winter. I love to see the trees budding; the perennial plants pushing through the soil. I love the feel of the sun on my face and the warmth it brings.Spring is definitely my season. Now I love my garden; I take my garden seriously. I make my own compost; I do research before I add a new plant to the yard. I think about color, bloom time, height, annual or perennial. I am a serious gardener; at least I think so. Let’s not forget the lawn. You can have the most beautiful flowers and if the lawn is brown all summer, the garden loses its luster.
But to get the best of the spring, you have to think about what you are going to do before the spring arrives. If you want to grow vegetables, you have to decide: start indoors or buy from a nursery. There are so many decisions to make. I take pictures to help me make plans for the year ahead. Did I like the way this plant performed in the garden? Sometimes I introduce plants that I choose not to invite back because I didn’t like the chemistry in the garden. So I guess you understand why I love spring. As intense as your preparation could be to prepare for the new garden, all your plans would be of no avail if the soil is in poor condition. Every culture in existence knows something about plants and how they grow. One day, while Jesus was teaching, He told a parable about seeds growing in the soil in Matthew 13. In this story, the farmer sowed some seeds; in other words he scattered the seeds over the ground.
There is a lot of expectation when the farmer scatters the seed. He expects to reap a good harvest. You see, this farmer gathered his best seed because he was looking for exceptional returns on his investment. When you are a farmer your success is linked to the success of your seed because you cannot reap what didn’t grow. As the farmer examined his farmland he noticed a few things.
“As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.” Verse 4. This talks about people with hardened hearts. They are not focused on God or who He is. As a result, their hearts become hard so there no place for the roots to grow and the seed dies. Jesus explained it this way: “The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.” Verse 19
Flowers from my garden .
Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.” Verses 5-6. That happens when people hear the word and they are not very attentive so the enemy came and made God’s word ineffective in their lives. They allow the distractions of the things in the world divert their attention from the word of God. Jesus said, “The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.” Verse 20-21
“Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.” Verse 7. Some people hear the word and it begins to bear fruit in the life of the individual. But the issues that are present in their lives over power the word in their lives and so there is no room for the word to grow. Jesus told them, “The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.” Verse 22.
“Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” verse 8. Then he found the area where the seed fell on good ground. This is the area that brought great joy in the heart of the farmer. This area of the farm will bring a return for the labor the farmer invested. Every farmer wants their seed on good soil. Jesus said, “The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” verse 23.
Harvest is a combination of good seed and good soil. Gardeners love good soil but when you purchase a house you don’t have the opportunity to choose the soil. So you work with what you have. If your soil is poor everyone will know because you plants will perform poorly. What do you do? Do you say that there is nothing you can do? You fertilize the soil; you add organic compound from the compost bin. You pair your crops carefully and work diligently. In due time, you have a garden with good soil. In your life, if your heart is not receptive to the word of God; ask the Holy Spirit to fertilize your life; irrigate your life with prayer. Soon, you will be fertile ground, a place for the word to bear fruit.
Thought for Today: Friend, is your heart good ground for the word of God?
Have a blessed day and walk in faith and victory.
Victory Walk 