Cultivating the Soil of Your Heart

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Graeme Wilson in Victory Call

“The same sun which melts wax hardens clay. And the same Gospel which melts some persons to repentance hardens others in their sins” – Spurgeon

“For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them, but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those that heard it.” Hebrews 4:2

How do you prepare your heart to be ready to receive the seeds of truth?

The Parable of the Sower from Luke 8:4ff
And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

I know that the context of this Scripture is referring to the Gospel and salvation. There are theologians that argue that only the fourth soil represents a true Christian while others argue that only the first soil is not a saved believer. Those things are beyond me but the reality of the truth that not everyone receives truth and is changed by it is pretty clear. Some have hardened hearts. “…But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.” Proverbs 28:14

Each individual needs to make a choice for themselves to receive or reject truth. “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” James 1:21

How’s the soil of your heart today? Do you listen to the Sunday sermon with a cynical ear? Do you only half listen because you have heard this all before? Do you allow your mind to wander, lacking interest in what is being said? Do you read the Scriptures to check it off your to-do list? Do you read and not change? There are many ways we “reject” truth. If we are not intentionally receiving truth – in some way – we are rejecting it.

Lord, show me the soil of my heart. May it be fertile ground for the seeds of Your truth to grow.

Blessings, Diane

Diane Hunt is a Biblical Counselor, women’s conference and retreat speaker and author. She serves as the Director of Partner Care and Director of Women’s Ministries at America’s Keswick. She and her husband John have 2 married children and 4 grandchildren. She loves reveling in warm sunny climates and playing with her grandchildren.