Soil Testing
By
Lisa Boyer
“Still
other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop - - a hundred, sixty or
thirty times what was sown.”
Matthew
13:8-9 (NIV)
It’s spring and my work
place will soon be receiving calls from people looking for information on soil
testing. They’ll collect a soil sample from their garden and ship it off to be
tested. A few weeks later, they’ll get the results and a recommended treatment
plan. If they properly prepare their soil, they can expect a good harvest.
The thought of soil
testing has had me pondering the “The Parable of the Sower” in Matthew
13.
As you may recall, the
seed falls on four types of soil: the path (hard soil), the rocky places with
shallow soil, the soil containing thorns, and the good soil. Jesus
explains the Parable in Matthew 13:18b-23 “When anyone hears the message
about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches
away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one
who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word
and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a
short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly
falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man
who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of
wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that
fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces
a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Jesus wants everyone to
understand and receive His message, so maybe part of the point He was making in
the “The Parable of the Sower” is actually a warning about the
condition of the soil. Life is a difficult journey and any number of things can
damage the heart (soil). Maybe Jesus was pointing out that the soil (the heart)
needs to be properly prepared to receive the seed (the message) before we sow
it.
Isn’t that what Jesus
did while He was here on Earth? Wasn’t He nurturing the hurting hearts of those
around Him with love and compassion and healing? Jesus’ second greatest
commandment, just like the first, is about love… and perhaps soil preparation
and maintenance.
Before sharing the
message with those around us, let’s take a moment to test the soil; then let’s prepare
the soil… with love.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Have you been
wanting to share what you know about Jesus with a friend? Today, ask God how
you can nurture them in preparation for that, knowing that ultimately it is the
Holy Spirit who changes hearts.
FURTHER READING:
Lisa
has been married to Ted for more than 20 years and they have two teenage sons.
Lisa administers Fresh Start’s Facebook and blog, and loves hanging out with
and impacting teenage girls for Christ.
