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 23 years and they have two sons
in college. Lisa serves in Quest 56 on Sunday mornings at Oakwood.
