The "Good Soil" Path

Scripture Reading

“Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty... As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (Matt 13:8, 23 ESV)

 "And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear...As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:8, 15 ESV)

A Heart of Good Soil

This soil is low in rocks and weeds. Hard work has been done to carry the rocks to the side of the field and to pull or kill the weeds. It is pure soil, ready to provide nutrients, water, and an environment for a plant to not only grow but bear fruit. This soil fulfills its purpose and produces a return.  

A heart of good soil has weathered storms and stayed the course by listening and following. However, the process is never done in this life. A heart with good soil has learned, grown, and healed. It is always becoming more pliable and able to produce fruit. The deep heart issues that have been and will continue to be turned up have been and will be dealt with and removed. The external cares of the world have been put into their place, pulled up, and thrown away. Whatever is revealed that needs to be done is completed not independently but, in community with the Father. This heart produces fruit. It looks like the heart of Jesus that reflects the Father.

Stories Around the Campfire

“Let’s talk about me trying to be an example in ROTC and why I feel so strongly about that. My older brother struggled and it had a big effect on me in a lot of ways. One of which was just observing the choices he made and deciding I didn't want to do the same. It also opened me up to the face that I needed to ask God about how I should act and how that needs to look. So that translates into college because when I went into ROTC there were all of these people living in different ways. Through the example of my Dad and the example of my brother, I was able to discern and be an example by, not partying, drinking, and using coarse language. It really showed an impact towards the end when I had a lieutenant colonel talk to me about our pier evaluation. He mentioned where and how I was ranked as far as peer evaluations go. I ranked higher than the person who was ranked number one in the class based on merit and grades. He talked to me about how I was a testament to my character and the person I’ve grown up into. It was not typical to him because the number one person is usually number one in every category. I think in general, one of the things I learned with my brother, Rob, was service. If you are a good servant you are a good leader. So because I had that experience while I was young, I had a better idea of how I wanted to have a heart of good soil as an adult.  

Calibration
- Can you relate to Judah’s story of how he works on having a heart of good soil? How so?
- What is an example of a time in your life when you had a heart of good soil?
- Do you often have a heart of good soil? How so? And Why?
- Ask your heavenly Father to give you clarity about how to have a heart of good soil!