We have been exploring the four types of ‘heart soils,” mentioned by Jesus in His parable about the sower. This is very important, because we can all exhibit any of these types of ‘soils’, at different times and during different phases of our lives. Jesus described the final ‘heart soil’ as good ground.
4. GOOD HEART ‘SOIL’
Mark 4:20 NKJV
“But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
What distinguishes the good ground or ‘heart soil’ from the other three is that it bears fruit. This is how mature Christians are distinguished from immature believers and the unsaved; the seed of God’s word produces much fruit in their lives, as evidence that they are disciples of Christ.
John 15:8 NLT
“When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.”
Those with good ground hearts are those who hear the word, believe and receive it and allow it to take root in them and produce the fruit of righteousness in their lives. It does not mean that they don’t face the challenges that the others face; it simply means that they have determined and resolved not to allow the challenges to hinder them; they press on to study and obey the word, and allow it to yield fruit in them.
These are keen hearers; they hear the word, accept and press on to understand it, and allow it to take root in their hearts by submitting to it. Their fruitfulness is an evidence of their good understanding and determination to reproduce it in their lives.
John 15:2 TPT
“He cares for the branches connected to me by lifting and propping up the fruitless branches and pruning every fruitful branch to yield a greater harvest.”
Of course, the degrees of fruitfulness varies – some a hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty – because the depths of understanding and commitment vary. However, when God sees even our tiniest efforts to work on our hearts and commit to reading and obeying the word, He steps in by His Spirit to help us, by stirring up our hearts to desire more.
Psalm 1:1-3 NKJV
“[1] Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; [2] but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. [3] He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”
REFLECTION:
Have you ever read a scripture or received a word from the Lord that you believed and held on to in prayer and confession, until it was fulfilled in your life? Remember the faith that built up in you to help you keep holding on to the word? Can you remember your joy when the word was finally fulfilled and you could see the fruit? Well, that happened because the seed of the word fell on good heart soil and fertile ground, causing it to be fruitful.
If you have never experienced this, then you can pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you overcome the challenges that hinder the word of God from being fruitful in your life.
For Further Reading: Psalm 92:12-14; Jeremiah 17:7-8; Mark 4:26-29
Fulfilling Our Theme For 2024: “Building The Highway And Lifting The Banner”
“And in that day, there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him…. (therefore) Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway! Take out the stones, lift up a banner for the peoples!” [Isaiah 11:10, Isaiah 62:10]
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