How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
    By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
    do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
  that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, Lord;
    teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount
    all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
    as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
    and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.  Psalm 119:9-16, NIV

It’s clear that the psalmist had deep love and reverence for God’s Word. This entire passage (Read all of Psalm 119), elevates the Word of God over all other documents and statutes. No other book transforms, teaches, and guides like God’s Word.

God’s Word lights our path, enlightens our mind with truth, and deepens both our love for God and our understanding of his ways.  The more we read, the more likely our thinking and behaving will transform in God’s ways.  The more we understand the character of God, the more those characteristics embody our being!

The key to spiritual growth is not increased church attendance or involvement in spiritual activities. People don’t grow in Christ because they are busy at church. They grow in Christ when they read and trust God’s Word—His message of love, mercy, and grace. 

Jesus makes it clear to “those who have ears to hear and eyes to see” that seeds of faith, deeply planted in God’s Word, who trust and obey what He says, not only thrive in their daily walk but lead others to Jesus, too! 

How deeply planted are we?  What soil?

Luke 8, The Message

8 ^1-3 He continued according to plan, traveled to town after town, village after village, preaching God’s kingdom, spreading the Message. The Twelve were with him. There were also some women in their company who had been healed of various evil afflictions and illnesses: Mary, the one called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod’s manager; and Susanna—along with many others who used their considerable means to provide for the company.

The Story of the Seeds

^4-8 As they went from town to town, a lot of people joined in and traveled along. He addressed them, using this story: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. Some of it fell on the road; it was tramped down and the birds ate it. Other seed fell in the gravel; it sprouted, but withered because it didn’t have good roots. Other seed fell in the weeds; the weeds grew with it and strangled it. Other seed fell in rich earth and produced a bumper crop.

“Are you listening to this? Really listening?”

⁹ His disciples asked, “Why did you tell this story?”

¹⁰ He said, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom—you know how it works. There are others who need stories. But even with stories some of them aren’t going to get it:

Their eyes are open but don’t see a thing,
Their ears are open but don’t hear a thing.

^11-12 “This story is about some of those people. The seed is the Word of God. The seeds on the road are those who hear the Word, but no sooner do they hear it than the Devil snatches it from them so they won’t believe and be saved.

¹³ “The seeds in the gravel are those who hear with enthusiasm, but the enthusiasm doesn’t go very deep. It’s only another fad, and the moment there’s trouble it’s gone.

¹⁴ “And the seed that fell in the weeds—well, these are the ones who hear, but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun.

¹⁵ “But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there’s a harvest.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Seeds of faith, planted firmly in God’s Word, will thrive this good soil and bear a harvest once lost but now found people as they tell about Jesus’ saving grace!

ALL people had a desire to travel with Jesus as they walked from town to town.  Men, women, The Twelve who were chosen to work alongside Jesus as apprentices in His Kingdom work, and now after leaving one town to go to another, townspeople follow the band of believers!  Can you imagine it?  Jesus’ words of life are changing lives significantly.  “I came to seek and to save the lost” mission from God is being accomplished.  But the harvest is great, the laborers are few.  So, Jesus trains The Twelve to train others to lead the lost to salvation which results in exponential growth of seeds planted in God’s Word—the Good Soil.

I like to plant!  I love watching over the seeds planted in the soil that I have prepared. I work hard to keep the soil fertilized with nutrients that will aid growth, as the seeds develop into plants that bear vegetables for the table or bear the beauty of flowers in the yard.  Randy loves to plant, too.  Daily, we look over our seeds which turn to tiny sprouts.  We guard the little plants from animals and insects.  We provide water when they are thirsty, and plant food when they seem to need nourishment. We even pray over our plants for it is God who created them and knows exactly what is needed most to grow.s is exactly how it is with believers of Jesus in God’s Kingdom.  God delights in us and watches over us daily.  He celebrates our growth.  He protects us when we are threatened by those things in life that might destroy us.  He provides exactly what we need when we need it most.  He even sings over us!  (See Zephaniah 3.)

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”  (Zephaniah 3:17)

Stay in the Good Soil of God’s Word.  Cling to His Words of help and hope that provide the nourishment we need to thrive in His love.  There is wisdom that surpasses all understanding in His Word as God teaches us how to live the abundant life—all because of Jesus.

Ready, get set, plant your feet on solid ground in the good soil! 

Believe and be saved.

Lord,

Thank you for another lesson of encouragement for our walk with you.  You do not hide your words of wisdom, compassion, love, mercy, and grace from us.  It is us who need to read what you say and cling to what you tell us so we can grow in your character. Thank you for “checking on us” daily as we transform from seeds to thriving plants that blossom and bear the fruits of your Holy Spirit.  Keep me in the Good Soil, Lord! I believe!

In Jesus Name, Amen