God’s Mission
Luke 8:4-15
The seed [that falls] on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
~ Jesus, Luke 8:15
4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,
“‘though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.’
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Pondering Point
There are four types of soil in this parable. Which soil(s) are you right now? How might these different soils relate to your past? Would you like to see your life defined as that of good soil moving forward?
Slow down and listen to God here. Let Him open your eyes to these answers. Pray for your soil (and for the soil of others) to be good. There is a long prayer (20+ minutes recorded) that I have grown to love entitled The Good Soil Prayer from Ransomed Heart Ministries. Our Prayer For the Day has two excerpts from it. Pray them for yourself.
Prayer For The Day
Father God, I confess that I need to live more deeply in a habitat that allows my soul to thrive. To cultivate that acquaintance, I know there’s unfinished business here, and so I give You the habitat of my life, and I ask that You would bring it into alignment with the habitat that’s right for my soul. Unforced rhythms of grace… I ask for a wise and discerning heart. I unite my heart with Your heart. I choose to listen to Your voice. I receive Your peace that passes understanding. I receive Your courage, I receive Your strength, I receive Your joy. I love You. I trust You. I choose to become good soil. You have my yes. Amen.