THE FRUITFUL LIFE
Matthew 13:3b
“ ‘Behold, a sower went out to sow.’ ”
This story that Jesus told of the sower and the fields (vss. 3-5) and His explanation of the parable (vss. 18-23) is a favorite of mine because it is such a vivid picture of how people respond to the Gospel. It answers the question of why some people are strong Christians and others do not flourish in their faith. Some people who have been so trampled by life they have become hardened and cannot receive the truth of the Gospel – like the seed sown along the pathway. Some people receive the truth of the Gospel but do not clean the stones (habits and wrong attitudes) out of their lives, so there is no soil for their faith to develop. Some people allow blackberry vines and brambles – “the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches” or materialism (vs. 22) to choke their faith. But there are those who fertilize the soil, clean out their lives, and keep the blackberries under control, and they become fruitful in their walk with Jesus. The seed – the Word of God – is good seed, and will grow and be fruitful in the proper conditions, but the Christian life takes some effort on my part. It is the goal of my life to become more and more fruitful and grow in my faith.
TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Faith in Christ is like a garden that must have good soil and be weeded in order to flourish and produce fruit.
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Have a fruitful day. Love you.
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