I am fascinated watching the stories around me—Mr. Most-Likely-to-Succeed actually does, while another flames out; gung-ho teacher quits after working 12 hours a day for two years, while another works half as much, but keeps at it for decades. Some destinies fulfill expectations, others are surprises. Most apples don’t fall far from the tree—but now and then one falls during a flood and floats away to a place unpredictable. God’s grace works miracles.
Jesus told about a farmer planting seed. Some fell on the road and was eaten by birds. Some fell on the rock, sprouted, then withered. Some was choked by thorns, unable to grow.
“Still other seed fell on good ground; when it sprang up it produced a crop: 100 times what was sown” Luke 8:8.
Jesus explained this parable. In these verses, I see the stories–the lives–of everyone I have ever known:
“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. Those on the rock 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. 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. But the seed on good soil stands for those who receive the word with an honest and good heart, retain it, and by enduring produce a crop” Luke 8:12-15.
Do you see your friends in these lines? Do you see yourself? Are you choked by life’s worries? Or riches? Or pleasures? Or do you receive the word with an honest and good heart? Will you endure and be faithful so God can use you to bear fruit?
Ask God to plant His word deep in your heart so you can bear tremendous fruit for Him!
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