The Word Planted in You

I am behind on the 31 day series. I plan to finish, and I thank you for grace as I learn and write. Sometimes maybe it doesn’t even seem like I am seeking Jesus in these posts, but rest assured, I am, and I hope you find Him here in these words.

I was thinking about yesterday’s post on reconciliation, and I reminded myself that I was once an enemy of God. How extravagant to think that now I am a friend and child of God! He doesn’t just command me to love my enemies and then run and hide. He actually loved His enemies and drew near to them through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Because I am now His child, He gives me the tools I need to LOVE my enemies. There are not words.

Since I started this series, one topic that I kept wanting to write about, but that was not fully formed in my thoughts was the parable of the four seeds. Yesterday, it seemed to make sense. Maybe because I’ve been rejuvenated, I feel an explosion of words.

“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” James 1:21

Do not doubt for a moment that James had the parable of the four seeds (parable of sower) in mind as he shared.

What is the parable of the four seeds?

“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,

“‘though seeing, they may not see;
    though hearing, they may not understand.’

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” Luke 8:1-15

We read this passage and apply it to our initial hearing of the Word. In particular, when I read it, I think as a believer that I am the one who has allowed the seed to be planted in the rich soul of my heart. I mean that’s always been my analysis – that because Christ lives in me, I accepted His seed and let it grow in me.

But on further reflection, that’s not true. The Word is not one seed that has been planted in my heart once and grown into a magnificent thing. Because I live in the United States, in the deep South, in Alabama, the Word has been sown into my heart numerous times. Even now, as a child of God, who is growing and producing shoots and maybe a few pieces of fruit, the Word continues to be sown into my heart. Sometimes, I hear it and let the devil snatch it (even though I am His). Sometimes, I hear it with joy, but I don’t let it take root in my heart because my heart is too hard, and I don’t want to do what the Word is calling me to do. Sometimes, I refuse to grow in maturity with Jesus because I’ve let my cares and concerns and worries overwhelm me and become first instead of my sweet Savior calling me. But then other times, I accept the Word, and allow it to change me, and I grow into maturity.

So maybe this parable is not just a parable about those who choose to believe and those who do not choose to believe. Maybe this parable is for us all.

What Gardener is unable to change the soil by adding manure? 😉 tilling it to make it softer? adding water? and vitamins? and worms? pulling the weeds? removing the rocks and the thorns? What Gardener does not care for His garden? Rest assured we have the best Gardener to make sure our hearts are becoming soft for Him, doing the work we are unable to do for ourselves, even as His children. We must accept the work of His hands so we can grow. This means leaning into Him during the hard times and refusing to allow Satan a foothold by thinking wrongly of who God is when times are hard.

Frankly, this passage concerns me because I know how weak I am. But, then it makes me most concerned for those who are not as privileged as me to live in a place where the Word is richly planted in my heart regularly. It makes me desire to always be tender to the Savior, because what grace that I have heard over and over and sometimes rejected. I cannot remain so self-indulgent. I am moved to maturity, because there are so many who do not hear, or when they do, it is not often.

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” Romans 10:17