Sow What?

Matthew 13:18-23

If a doctor were to perform surgery on you and remove a terminal tumor, you would say that he “saved” you. The Bible teaches that we all have a terminal tumor called sin. It points out that life has such a strong undertow of sin that it is dragging you out to sea and that you are headed toward death. We are all part of the ultimate statistic…10 out of 10 die. In the parable of the sower, Christ explains the four soils. Some miss the message…In v.19, it describes someone who hears the Gospel and doesn’t really get it. Then Satan comes and removes the message. Some drop the message… In v.20-21, it describes the person that makes an emotional, superficial commitment to salvation in Christ as they remain interested only until there is a price to pay and then abandon Christ in favor of something else. Some lose the message… In v.22, it describes the person that superficially embraces salvation, but the cares of the world win out over true repentance and they produce no fruit. Some get the message….In v.23, the good soil brings forth fruit in varying degrees as all truly saved people bear fruit. How am I doing in fruitfulness?


Questions for further thought:
1. If I was being totally honest, which of these four soils would represent me?

2. What is my reason and defense for my answer to question #1?


Challenge: Take time this week to examine the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 13 and take inventory of my life in relation to the different soils.