Luke 8:1-15 When Jesus told parables, He placed the truths in situations that they already were familiar with. Even so, there needed to be a desire to hear and understand. It was no different then, than it is today. We can hear the words, but we are really not listening, and so the meaning has no effect on us. There needs to be at least a willingness to let the words penetrate into our understanding; but better yet a desire to let them have the effect of changing our lives. In this parable Jesus compares the reception of His Word to the planting of seed in various kinds of soil. The person who hears like the seed on the path is the one that either has no desire or intention to change his life, has no interest, or has the intention of just criticizing and picking it apart. Satan will come and steal the Word away, in case you just might want to think about it later. Others hear and get excited. They really believe it for a while, but then their "issues" surface and they won't let the Word penetrate those issues. "You just wouldn't understand, not even God's Word can deal with the problems I have. "There are still others that might say this all sounds good for someone else but, "I'm too busy, or there is just too much fun to be had, I can't tie myself down to this Jesus thing." Then there are the folks who are represented as the good soil. These people certainly have issues and might be very busy people, they bring to the Word four important things. Their ears are open, and they hear, listening. They retain the Word, storing it in their minds and hearts. They persevere, letting it into the issues of their lives. They find a place in the business of their lives - they won' t give up. And they produce a crop, letting it change their lives. They plant the Word in others. They allow the soil of their lives to be broken up.

How's Your Soil?