“The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity” (Luke 8:14 NLT).

IS YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE GETTING LOST IN THE WEEDS?

Jesus told a parable about a farmer who scattered seed that fell onto four types of soil. The seed represented God’s Word and the four soils represented four heart conditions of spiritual receptivity. The first was the foot path, representing a hard or closed heart that rejects the Word. The second was rocky soil, representing a heart of shallow commitment that is easily blown away by the first storm of difficulty. The third was thorny soil.

Of the soils that Jesus described, the thorny soil probably best resembles the hearts of most modern Christians. For the seed of God’s Word is readily received by this heart soil, yet it is quickly crowded out by the competing thorns, “the cares and riches and pleasures of this life”

There has never been a generation so blessed with access to the Bible and the gospel message. Yet, today’s believers have a stunted spiritual maturity. They spend their days distracted by so many things that they fail to focus on the important.

There is a fourth soil. It is good fertile soil. The heart represented by this soil is receptive to God’s Word. This heart clings to the Word and patiently allows the Word to produce a huge spiritual harvest in their life.

Which of these soils represents your heart today? Are you cultivating the seed of God’s Word or is your spiritual life getting lost in the weeds?

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for giving us Your Word. Forgive us for taking it for granted. Help us to cling to it and grow deep spiritual roots from its study and meditation. Strengthen us to trust and obey Your Word by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.