Luke 8:11-15 (NIV) ¹¹ “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. ¹² 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. ¹³ Those on the rocky ground 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. ¹⁴ 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. ¹⁵ 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.

As a child I observed my Dad, when he prepared the soil for a garden.  This preparation involved: tilling the soil, removing rocks and weeds, and watering the soil.

In the gospel according to Luke is where we find a parable of a Gardner.   A parable is an earthly story with a spiritual meaning.  In this parable is where the Gardner has sowed seed, but not all of the seed was able to produce a crop because of some hindrances.

Just as our earthly soil needs to be clear of hindrances, our spiritual soil should not have hindrances if it wants to be productive or mature.   Some hindrances to being productive are a focus on trials instead of trusting in God the Father Almighty.   Other hindrances of growth can be placing wealth and desires of pleasure above a relationship with God.

All of us should strive to have good soil.  When the seed is planted in good soil it can produce a mature crop.  Good soil honors God by imitating Him in the way they love others.  Good soil recognizes that all of their help comes from God.   Good soil trust in the King of Glory.

Examine your soil.