Starting a New Year many will look back over the previous year to see their own accomplishments or areas that still need improvement. One area that is a continual growing experience is one’s own spirituality. Some may think that they have never tended to anything spiritual and have no intentions of ever doing so, but even an atheist has a Creator.
In the Gospel of Mark chapter four Jesus explains the parable of the soils with the question of how will people be able to understand any other teaching or parables He speaks if they don’t understand this one. Some religions misquote John 1:1 and therefore deny the deity of Christ, but it states that, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…v 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” We have the benefit, like the disciples did of the answer to the key of the parable of what the sower was sowing. The seed being sown is the Word, which is Christ Himself. Depending upon how we respond to the seed sown in our lives will determine what harvest we will reap.
There are 3 negative ways and one positive way to respond in regards to spiritual maturity. People have 4 choices in how they will respond to the Word in their own life. As Jesus explained the four ways are the wayside, stony ground, among the thorns, and on good ground. The seed on the wayside are those who have hardened hearts and want nothing to do with “religion or spirituality.” When they hear the Word, “Satan comes immediately and takes away.” In Hosea it instructs one to “break up your fallow ground.” Until we choose to have faith and believe our heart will remain hardened and unreceptive to spiritual change.
The seed sown on stony ground are those who first hear the Word and receive it with gladness, but it doesn’t take root. Then when life happens with tribulation or persecution they immediately stumble and go back to the ways of the world making comments such as, “I’ve tried that religion stuff and it didn’t work for me.” Really it is the condition of the soil and the seed unable to take root is the issue, not the seed. Then there is the seed sown among the thorns which are the ones who hear and then the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke out the Word making that person become unfruitful. But, those who are the “good soil” are those by their free will choose to be receptive to what they hear and through faith and trust decide to follow Christ and their life changes and they are different than they used to be.
The Seed is the same in each scenario. God is unchanging. The Word never changes. It is the condition of the soil that is different, so how does your garden grow? If you choose to be in the good soil then you will bring forth a harvest all at different levels.
Motto for 2024: Live Truth. Be different.
TRS 1/7/24
Rays of Hope 