Chapter 13

        "A sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.  Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched.  And since they had no root, they withered away.  Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.  Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear."

"Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.  This is what was sown along the path.  As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.  As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and it proves unfruitful.  As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it.  He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

        I remember back a few years ago, I was "discipling" a girl whom I led to Christ. (You will find out why I emphasized [what I called] discipling in a bit...)  I wanted to study Scripture with her, so we started out the book of Matthew.  We came upon this passage and studied it further.  The first time I read it then, I was quite confident my life reflected the seed that fell on good soil, and I pointed out to her that she was the seed that fell on rocky ground (Not a very friendly or gracious thing to do).  What is so sad, is that at that time of "discipling" (there I go again!)  I was a porn addict, a severe idolater and a person who found her identity in alcohol.  How could I be properly discipling someone and helping develop the conditions in which seed falls in her life, if my conditions were not healthy?  Just an exhortation: Do not assume you are healthy.  Let others who are more spiritually mature confirm your growing conditions.  

      Where is your heart at today?  Do your faith roots go deep, so that when trial and tribuation come, you will stand firm in Jesus?  Of what importance is the world to you?  Are you more concerned at being accepted by the world rather than being accepted by Christ?   Look around you.  Is there good fruit being produced from your life?  If so, this is a good indication that you are good soil, producing a good crop. 

On Matthew Chapter 13

• Leanne