It is a difficult question to ask I think sometimes...
I want to share with you some thoughts that I have as I glean from Scripture concerning this subject:
"For my people are foolish, they have not known Me. They are silly children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge." - Jeremiah 4:22
To be a fool biblically means does not mean that one is a silly or stupid person in the sense of zany, but to be a fool in that one does not delight in understanding. In the above verse, "understanding" is the key word.
To be a fool spiritually is to be childish. To be immature and without understanding - this is childishness. Listen to Proverbs 22:15: "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child. The rod of correction will drive it far from him."
When Jesus spoke of the parable of the sower, this is essentially what he was talking about. Look at verses 6-9: "But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times." Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear.'"
What is Jesus calling good soil? Only that soil which has understanding of the seed that is sown. If the Word of God is falling on your soul and spirit, but you are not understanding its truth, you are not allowing the seed to grow in good soil. Good soil is soil of understanding, soil that is no longer childish, no longer foolish.
"Actually, I do find Christians these days who seem to have largely wasted their lives. They were converted to Christ but they have never sought to go on to an increasing knowledge of God. There is untold loss and failure because they have accepted the whole level of things around them as being normal and desirable." AW Tozer
Do you understand, or better yet, are you just reading, or are you seeking to understand?
pcraig
3 comments:
Well how do we get soil of understanding. Not by sowing good seed, because you can sow good seed but without good or understanding soil it doesn't grow.
Coming soon....seeking delight in understanding God's Word and the illumination of the Holy Spirit...only by His power....
Christian, your answer:
This is seed that falls “on good soil.” Jesus again identifies the seed in the parable as the Word of God. The result that Jesus emphasizes, in contrast to the three previously-mentioned soils, is that this soil produces lasting fruit in varying measures. This soil represents a receptive heart, a heart that desires to understand. Please note that the word translated here as “receive” is a different Greek word than that translated “receive” in v. 16. Only the receptive heart receives the Word rightly. So was Jesus talking about you? We get soil of understanding by desiring to receive the Word of God with meekness and a receptive heart.
Remember, in the Gospel of Mark Jesus calls His followers to a lasting response. This parable is a warning to the soil. It conveys the importance of lasting fruit—fruit that remains. Only soil that produces fruit pleases the Father. Has the Word of God affected you? Have you understood it? Are you an influenced follower?
Post a Comment