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WHAT SEEDS ARE YOU SOWING?
While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “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 of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 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, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.†Luke 8:4-8
Jesus was becoming very popular in the towns that He went to and He loved telling parables to the people. When Jesus would get to a town, all the people gathered around Him. The news was being passed from one town to the next about all that was happening to the people when Jesus came to their town.
People were being healed and lives were being transformed. The people would listen to Jesus for hours, as He was an anointed Teacher, their Messiah, but many did not recognize Him. How much time are you listening to the Lord each day? Are you reading His Word and talking (praying) to Him?
Do you know much about farming? Before the farmer sows his seeds, he has to prepare the soil. The farmer who sows his seeds is expecting a harvest. Have you started preparing your soil for the Lord to plant His seed, God's Word, into your heart? After your seeds start growing in the good soil, you will reap a harvest.
His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 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.’†Luke 8:9-10
Are you hearing and understanding what the Lord is saying to you about your life and marriage? How are your seeds being planted into your heart? Where are the seeds landing as you read God's Word or when you go to church or to a Bible study? Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart as you read God’s Word, to open your spiritual eyes and ears to receive a new Word for you, your spouse, children or loved ones today.
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 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 stand 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 with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.†Luke 8:11-15 (Also read Mark 4:1-20)
Why do some standers or people give up on their spouse and their God? Where would Bob be if I had given up when I got lonely, discouraged, tired of the fighting after our divorce or being tempted by the enemy with someone else? Where would I be or where would our children be spiritually if I had given up on God's plan for our family? God would find someone else who would be willing to stand and build an ark for their family and for future generations. I just praise the Lord and keep thanking Him for choosing me to stand for our marriage.
I believe Luke 8 explains why some standers quit standing for their spouse. The soil represents the hearts or the minds of men. Let me explain:
- The soil on the pathway is hardened and uncultivated. God’s Word cannot penetrate it. A person can hear the Word of God, but they will not be able to store it in their heart. The enemy, Satan, comes and takes the Word from their heart and they do not become a believer, a Christian receiving their salvation.
- The rocky soil has a thin layer of dirt over the hard rock. People will hear and receive their salvation, with happiness, but they have no roots. These people accepted Jesus as Savior, but never surrendered their life to Jesus to be the Lord of their life. Possibly this person did not go to church, read the Bible or make the total commitment to Jesus Christ. They did not grow spiritually and then were led astray as they had no deep roots in their spiritual life to be able to withstand the storms of life the Lord’s way. Every seed must grow and take root. Are you taking root in God’s Word? Are your roots growing deeper into the soil, God’s Word, every day?
- The seed that fell among thorns is a double-minded man. They hear God’s Word and become a believer, but do not learn to resist temptations of the world, such as money or the pleasures of the world. They do not grow and mature in the Lord. This person does not develop a daily personal relationship with the Lord. Are you growing in the Lord or are you being swayed by your worries or your circumstances? Keep your eyes on the Lord, do not listen to others.
- The seed that lands on the good soil will believe and receive their salvation. They will develop and deepen their personal relationship with the Lord. They will grow in the Word, memorizing scriptures, applying God’s truths daily to their life, growing in faith, persevering and bearing much fruit. They are producing a crop for the Lord.
What kind of soil do you have for your Lord? Your soil needs to be prepared for the Word of God for the seeds to take root. You may have lived near farm country sometime in your life. You know how the farmer had to spend much time turning the soil and breaking it up. Having a good crop in the end depends on the soil and the seeds that are planted. The dirt needs to be rich, well prepared, watered and fertilized regularly. Our minds are like the farmer’s soil.
Are you trying to feed your mind with the world’s way by listening to all the regular shows, reading everything on the Internet, playing video games on the Internet and watching your favorite shows on TV? Are you turning your soil and breaking it up by reading the Word of God daily? Do you listen to the radio talk shows that use coarse joking or do you listen to the Christian radio shows or Christian CDs? When Satan brings temptation in your life, the kind of soil you have will determine how the temptation will grow. It is not sin when you are tempted, it is sin when you fall into temptation.
What is your soil like today? You have a choice. You can start right now tilling, plowing or harrowing the soil and make sure that there are no rocks or thorny weeds in the ground. You may need a hoe or a shovel to get some big, deep roots of wrongs out of your life such as anger, unforgiveness or jealousy or _____. (Fill in the blank) Do it right now! Are you sure your soil, your heart, is ready to receive your seeds, as you read the Word of God which will produce a good harvest?
“Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.†Mark 4:20
Go, start working on your soil right now! Become the farmer and be diligent in preparing your soil so that you can have a mighty harvest! The harvest will be your marriage restored by the Lord and rebuilt in your beautiful garden that you have been working on faithfully. To God be the glory!
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
Have a blessed day,
Charlyne Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “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 of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 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, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.†Luke 8:4-8
Jesus was becoming very popular in the towns that He went to and He loved telling parables to the people. When Jesus would get to a town, all the people gathered around Him. The news was being passed from one town to the next about all that was happening to the people when Jesus came to their town.
People were being healed and lives were being transformed. The people would listen to Jesus for hours, as He was an anointed Teacher, their Messiah, but many did not recognize Him. How much time are you listening to the Lord each day? Are you reading His Word and talking (praying) to Him?
Do you know much about farming? Before the farmer sows his seeds, he has to prepare the soil. The farmer who sows his seeds is expecting a harvest. Have you started preparing your soil for the Lord to plant His seed, God's Word, into your heart? After your seeds start growing in the good soil, you will reap a harvest.
His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 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.’†Luke 8:9-10
Are you hearing and understanding what the Lord is saying to you about your life and marriage? How are your seeds being planted into your heart? Where are the seeds landing as you read God's Word or when you go to church or to a Bible study? Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart as you read God’s Word, to open your spiritual eyes and ears to receive a new Word for you, your spouse, children or loved ones today.
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 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 stand 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 with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.†Luke 8:11-15 (Also read Mark 4:1-20)
Why do some standers or people give up on their spouse and their God? Where would Bob be if I had given up when I got lonely, discouraged, tired of the fighting after our divorce or being tempted by the enemy with someone else? Where would I be or where would our children be spiritually if I had given up on God's plan for our family? God would find someone else who would be willing to stand and build an ark for their family and for future generations. I just praise the Lord and keep thanking Him for choosing me to stand for our marriage.
I believe Luke 8 explains why some standers quit standing for their spouse. The soil represents the hearts or the minds of men. Let me explain:
- The soil on the pathway is hardened and uncultivated. God’s Word cannot penetrate it. A person can hear the Word of God, but they will not be able to store it in their heart. The enemy, Satan, comes and takes the Word from their heart and they do not become a believer, a Christian receiving their salvation.
- The rocky soil has a thin layer of dirt over the hard rock. People will hear and receive their salvation, with happiness, but they have no roots. These people accepted Jesus as Savior, but never surrendered their life to Jesus to be the Lord of their life. Possibly this person did not go to church, read the Bible or make the total commitment to Jesus Christ. They did not grow spiritually and then were led astray as they had no deep roots in their spiritual life to be able to withstand the storms of life the Lord’s way. Every seed must grow and take root. Are you taking root in God’s Word? Are your roots growing deeper into the soil, God’s Word, every day?
- The seed that fell among thorns is a double-minded man. They hear God’s Word and become a believer, but do not learn to resist temptations of the world, such as money or the pleasures of the world. They do not grow and mature in the Lord. This person does not develop a daily personal relationship with the Lord. Are you growing in the Lord or are you being swayed by your worries or your circumstances? Keep your eyes on the Lord, do not listen to others.
- The seed that lands on the good soil will believe and receive their salvation. They will develop and deepen their personal relationship with the Lord. They will grow in the Word, memorizing scriptures, applying God’s truths daily to their life, growing in faith, persevering and bearing much fruit. They are producing a crop for the Lord.
What kind of soil do you have for your Lord? Your soil needs to be prepared for the Word of God for the seeds to take root. You may have lived near farm country sometime in your life. You know how the farmer had to spend much time turning the soil and breaking it up. Having a good crop in the end depends on the soil and the seeds that are planted. The dirt needs to be rich, well prepared, watered and fertilized regularly. Our minds are like the farmer’s soil.
Are you trying to feed your mind with the world’s way by listening to all the regular shows, reading everything on the Internet, playing video games on the Internet and watching your favorite shows on TV? Are you turning your soil and breaking it up by reading the Word of God daily? Do you listen to the radio talk shows that use coarse joking or do you listen to the Christian radio shows or Christian CDs? When Satan brings temptation in your life, the kind of soil you have will determine how the temptation will grow. It is not sin when you are tempted, it is sin when you fall into temptation.
What is your soil like today? You have a choice. You can start right now tilling, plowing or harrowing the soil and make sure that there are no rocks or thorny weeds in the ground. You may need a hoe or a shovel to get some big, deep roots of wrongs out of your life such as anger, unforgiveness or jealousy or _____. (Fill in the blank) Do it right now! Are you sure your soil, your heart, is ready to receive your seeds, as you read the Word of God which will produce a good harvest?
“Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.†Mark 4:20
Go, start working on your soil right now! Become the farmer and be diligent in preparing your soil so that you can have a mighty harvest! The harvest will be your marriage restored by the Lord and rebuilt in your beautiful garden that you have been working on faithfully. To God be the glory!
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
Have a blessed day,
Charlyne Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
