How’s the Soil of Your Heart?

Wheat harvested.
Use those seeds to plant a new crop
...in good soil.

One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: "A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!" When he had said this, he called out, "Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand." Luke 8:4-8 (Underlined for emphasis.) 

Meditate. Consider what it means to use your ears and what it means to listen and understand.

 

Have you ever planted a field…or a garden? I grew up on a small farm and it seems to me that this farmer wasn’t very dedicated or well-prepared. Who would waste seeds on a footpath, or road? Who wouldn’t clear the rocks from the field so that the seeds could grow in good soil? Weeds and thorns? They don’t make good companion plants. At least some of the seeds landed in good soil—and resulted in a hundred percent success. That is good odds.

To plant seeds, one needs to prepare the soil. In the field, farmers disc the soil—and in our gardens we can simply use a shovel or a rototiller. Depends on the size of the garden. So, what was Jesus saying to that crowd of people? He goes on to explain it to His disciples in terms of spiritual growth. Think about how you heard about Jesus—the seeds of Good News. Is your heart, good soil, ready to receive the truth?

This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God's word. The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don't have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God's word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. Luke 8:11-15

 We don’t have to guess what Jesus meant. He told His disciples plainly and decisively. Be the good soil—good-hearted people who hear God's word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. That huge harvest is all the new Christians who listen, hear, and understand. Do you understand? Are you scattering “seeds”—concepts of Jesus?

 

Prayer – Lord Jesus, I’m listening to Your words and I’m trying to plant seeds of Your words…and lifestyle…among those who don’t know You. Help me to live every moment following You and give us all understanding.   

 

Verse of Salvation ~ The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. Luke 8:12

© 2025 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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