Good Soil is So Good
Luke 8:16 ¶ “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.
Luke 8:17 For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.
Luke 8:18 Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”
Hey! We get to talk about good and happy parts of this parable today!
Look at how awesome the seed on the good soil is. Look at what it does with God’s word:
- Hold it fast in an honest and good heart
- Bear fruit with patience
These are, of course, in contrast to what happened to the other seeds that fell on soil and either lost it to the birds or withered too quickly.
But that patience bit?
Remember how the seed that was choked off never bore mature fruit? THAT is what’s up with the patience bit. Maturity takes time. It takes time, growing in a great environment, to eventually bear fruit. Unless you’re growing alfalfa sprouts, everything that grows has to grow for a while before it yields a harvest.
This is what Eugene Peterson calls “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.” You aren’t going to change your life for good after 2 Sundays at church. Your kids aren’t going to grow up loving and serving the Lord after a few spiritual conversations.
- Hold it fast in an honest and good heart
- Bear fruit with patience
But as we do grow, are aren’t afraid to show off our growth. We ask questions, testify to the Lord’s goodness, and shine out His progress to others. Of all of the 75,423 things people can argue about, it’s hard to argue with a changed life.
Multiply that changed life over 20 or 40 years, and you’ve really got a strong example!
So don’t be anxious about bearing fruit, but hold fast all that you know about the Lord and grow in it. He’s so good and He loves us so much! He wants to bear fruit in our lives even more than we do!
You are His great work that He loves to show off, even in your failures. As His grace abounds in your life, so will your thankfulness, and the glory of God increases all around. Let’s pray together that we’ll be that soil even more.
–
You can get the Daily Bible Readings to your inbox via email every day by subscribing here. Join the discussion online on Facebook or Twitter.