Fertile Faith

In Luke 8, Jesus tells a parable of four types of ground upon which a farmer broadcast seed: [5] “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 ate it up. [6] Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. [7] Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. [8] Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown."

As Christians, we tend to see ourselves as the good soil that, being cultivated properly, we receive the seed of God's Word and produce an abundant crop of good deeds and changed lives. However, do you really think your heart is really open and receptive to God's Word all the time?  Aren't there times you have chosen other than to follow the Spirit's promoting?  Aren't there times when words come from your heart and out of your mouth that were not planted there by the Sporit?  Aren't there times when you feel hard-hearted?

The truth is, you are not a particular soil or piece of ground. Your faith doesn't grow in the same soil all the time. Your heart may be well cultivated and receptive today but hardened or weed-filled tomorrow. The soil of your heart must be cultivated daily with the plow of Bible study, the fertilizer of faithful prayer and the watering of quiet-time with God. Satan is busy tossing in rocks, planting weeds and stomping down the ground of your faith, you need to daily attend to the condition of your heart. 

Whether your faith is fertile enough to receive the seed of God's Word and cause it grow to a productive maturity depends on how well it is cultivated. Fertile faith is not the result of a one-time decision of faith but a daily walking with the Lord as he prepares and cultivates your heart. 

Jus' Sayn.