“But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold” (Mark 4:20).
Every time I read or hear Jesus’s parable of the sower (or the soils, as some call it), I stop to pray, “Lord, let me be good soil!” I know that on any given day, I could be like the path, the rocky ground, or all be overwhelmed by thorns.
Sometimes I’m not paying attention. In one ear and out the other. Other times it just doesn’t sink in. I can’t figure out how it applies. Still other times I’ve got a million things on my mind, and there doesn’t seem to be much room for spiritual truths. Or, I’m all ears, and I learn something new and useful.
I’d rather be the last on that list. Jesus promises, “Pay attention to what you hear…For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away” (4:24,25). Some of that is on me. If I get rid of distractions, I can, of course, focus much better. But I can always ask God for help, too. I can ask for knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. I can ask to learn something new. I can pray that he would direct my steps according to his word. I can ask that I would be good soil!
Waite for it... 