In the Parable of the soils, Jesus spoke of the farmer who sowed seeds on his land. Some of those seeds landed on the side of the path, some fell on rocky ground, some among thorns. “Other seed fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear (Matthew 13.8-9). The Lord was teaching the importance of both the soil and how it is received in the soil. What is sown in the first three does not last; it will not produce a beneficial harvest. Christ’s point? It wasn’t farming.
He went on to explain. “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” (13.23). What constitutes “good soil”? In farming, it is the nutrition and makeup of the soil which corresponds to the seed being planted. In reference to people, it is the preparation of the heart to hear God’s Word and respond in faith; it is a heart ready to receive the Scriptures; it is a heart ready to be molded by the Lord; it is a heart desiring holiness and freedom from all sin; it is a heart willing to change, to be free of all sin; it is a heart looking beyond self to the true purpose of life; it is a heart willing to be used by God. “Good soil” will produce good fruit. Sometimes fruit is obvious, as in seeing a life changed because of one’s testimony, or one come to Christ in salvation, or one being used by God. But not all fruit is obvious. Some are unseen, as in having an influence among others that is never known to us, or having a part in one’s personal growth, or sharing Scripture with one that later makes an impact and produces change. It is not our responsibility to see the fruit, harvest the fruit, or count fruit; it is our responsibility to be fruit-bearers; to be willing to be used and to be usable to the Lord, in His production of fruit for His glory. May we pray be to be “good soil”, willing and usable for our Lord.
Being usable by God – we have much to be thankful for –
Terry Burlingame
My Morning Desk 