saltandlight

My Sunday School lesson Sunday was a good one! They are all good but this one I felt was more for me than it was for the kids!  The lesson was about the sower and the seed.  The parable that Jesus taught comparing to the types of soil to our hearts.

“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.“

Some seed fell along the path or by the wayside and the birds devoured it before it could even take root.  These are the ones (people) that when they hear the word, Satan immediately comes and takes it.  They are dry, empty and don’t really want to hear the truth.

Some seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up but because it had no depth of soil, it couldn’t grow.  These are the ones that hear the word, receive the word but they have no root in themselves. When trials come or persecution arises, they back away. They don’t have any depth.

Some seed fell amongst the thorns and the weeds. It may have taken root and tried to grow, but the thorns and weeds choked it out.  These are the ones that hear the word, but are immediately distracted by the things of the world.  The things of the world choke out the word we just received.  But, only if we let it!

And finally other seeds fell into good soil, rich soil. It produced grain and increased. These are the ones that are rooted and grounded in the Word.  They receive the word, they accept it and they apply it to their lives. They “bear fruit” by telling others and living a Godly life.

The one that stood out the most to me is the second one.  The rocky ground.  I believe these are the ones in our day and time that go to church regularly.  Pay their tithes like they should.  Maybe even sing in the choir or lead in some other way.  But, they are so busy doing all of these things, along with working and raising a family, that they forget to take personal time with God.  The don’t read their Bible daily and if they do, it’s a quick little devotion that they read and go on about their business.  They don’t spend very much time in prayer. They say a quick prayer and instead of meditating and waiting to receive a word from God, they go on about their business.

The reason this spoke to me so much is because I’ve been there myself!  I know how easy it is to get caught up in the busyness of life and forsake alone time with God.  And I am afraid that as a society that has become the norm.  It is acceptable, even encouraged to stay busy.  Go, go, go! Run here and there, take this child to this practice, make it to this child’s recital.  And in the mean time, be sure we get a good picture to post on social media so everyone knows what a happy family we are!  We even have to schedule family time!  I understand, believe me I really do!

That is why I encourage you today to take some time to yourself, alone with God.  Just talk to Him.  Tell Him what’s on your heart.  Read some scripture and meditate on it.  Listen to some praise music and give Him your worship.  Believe me when I tell you that it is so worth the sacrifice of your time.  You will receive such a blessing from that time with Him.  And then when you go to church and hear the message, you will get more from the message when your heart is prepared.

You can’t grow a garden without preparing the soil.  And your heart needs to be prepared to receive God’s word!