THE THORNY SOIL OF THE AMERICAN BELIEVER
Jesus told a parable about a sower who sowed seed that fell on four types of soil. Some seed fell on a path, some in rocky soil, some fell in soil overgrown with thorns and some fell on good soil. Jesus later explained the parable to His disciples. He said the seed represented God’s Word and the soil represented the spiritual receptivity of the human heart.
Certainly, one can see all four heart conditions among Americans and their spiritual receptivity to the gospel. But the third condition, the thorny soil condition, is the most prolific. Americans, especially in the South, are usually very open to receiving God’s Word. Yet, the fruitfulness of their lives is often stunted. Why? Jesus explained it. They are troubled by the “worries of the age” or they are ensnared by “the seduction of wealth.” The “desire for other things,” meaning worldly, rather than spiritual things, has “choked” the fruitfulness of the Word in them. As a result, they never really grow to spiritual maturity.
What’s your heart’s receptivity to the Word? Have you allowed the thorny vines of worry about the pandemic or politics to choke your spiritual growth? Have you become entangled and seduced by the pursuit of wealth and the desire for worldly things, which has choked your enthusiasm for God’s Word? Or is your heart good soil? Does the Word take root in you and bear good fruit?
PRAYER: Dear Father, none of us have pure hearts, but You have promised to give us a new heart. Help us to disentangle ourselves from the love of money and worldly things, so that Your Word can take deep root and be fruitful in us. We want hearts that love You and Your Word above all things. In Jesus’ name, amen.