Don’t let your emotions make your decisions.”
–D.C. Adkisson (The True and Unbiased Life of Elias Butler)
“So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”
“So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”
–Luke 14:33 (NKJV)
——————————————-
“But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” –Matthew 13:23 (NKJV)
We come now to the person who not only hears the word, but understands it. It has been said that understanding is a fundamental element of discipleship. If one does not understand how can they grow, how can they learn, how can they develop? Let’s look at Luke’s version, from the NIV: “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.” (8:15) The RSV puts the last phrase this way, “bring forth fruit with patience.”
One thing in common is the seed. It is the same for all types of soil–for all those who hear. So the seed is not the problem. We see only one genuine heart–the fourth one. My Grandma could grow things, but she always prepared the soil. She would mark out an area where she wanted her little garden and would have me spade it up. Then she would, painstakingly, work the soil. Over and over she would chop at it with a hoe and rake, moving the soil back and forth, breaking down the clods. She would take the rake and chop at it some more, removing any grass or roots that might still be there. Then, when she was satisfied with the soil, she would plant her seeds. If a person has a hard heart, it must be worked over by the Spirit before the Word can take root.
Therefore, one key element is the soil, its preparation. The heart must be right and ready. Stedman writes, “The flesh allows us to relate only to the passing moment, to the changing scene, the surface of life, which touches our emotions and centers our attention upon them so that what concerns us is only how we are feeling at the moment.” That is why Billy Graham would always admonish those who came forward at the altar call to find a good Bible-believing church. The heart must not be allowed to harden; it must be more than just an emotional rush.
Notice again the soil. There is a deeper thought here. It does not say that there were no rocks in the soil, or that there were not roots of thorny plants. Matthew Henry states, “That which distinguished this good ground from the rest, was, in one word, fruitfulness. He does not say that this good ground had no stones in it, or no thorns; but there were none that prevailed to hinder its fruitfulness. This is the second key element–fruitfulness. The seed planted in the prepared soil will produce fruit. To produce good fruit the soil must be ready. Barclay states it like this: “First, he listens attentively. Second, he keeps what he hears in his mind and heart and thinks over it until he discovers its meaning for himself. Third, he acts upon it. He translates what he has heard into action.”
Go back to the verse in Luke, “by persevering produce a crop.” It doesn’t happen overnight. True, if the “sinner’s prayer” is said from the heart, the person is saved, but then there must be nurturing. However, many times it is but an emotional outburst, a flippant phrase. The soil hasn’t been prepared properly. The farmer knows it takes time for the seed to germinate, the crop to grow, and the fruit to develop. He watches, he cultivates, then the harvest comes. But Jesus gives a word of warning that we read in John. Our root system must be in the true vine. We cannot grow apart from Him. John writes, “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” (15:6, NKJV) This is a fruitless vine. John writes further, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (15:8, NKJV)
You will be My disciples if you bear fruit. To do so, there must be endurance, perseverance and a willingness to bear the cross that has been given to us. It does not happen overnight; the work is painstaking, but the soil is prepared, the seed is sown, and now…growth can occur. Discipleship will happen as there is deeper and more understanding.
——————————————-
“But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” –Matthew 13:23 (NKJV)
We come now to the person who not only hears the word, but understands it. It has been said that understanding is a fundamental element of discipleship. If one does not understand how can they grow, how can they learn, how can they develop? Let’s look at Luke’s version, from the NIV: “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.” (8:15) The RSV puts the last phrase this way, “bring forth fruit with patience.”
One thing in common is the seed. It is the same for all types of soil–for all those who hear. So the seed is not the problem. We see only one genuine heart–the fourth one. My Grandma could grow things, but she always prepared the soil. She would mark out an area where she wanted her little garden and would have me spade it up. Then she would, painstakingly, work the soil. Over and over she would chop at it with a hoe and rake, moving the soil back and forth, breaking down the clods. She would take the rake and chop at it some more, removing any grass or roots that might still be there. Then, when she was satisfied with the soil, she would plant her seeds. If a person has a hard heart, it must be worked over by the Spirit before the Word can take root.
Therefore, one key element is the soil, its preparation. The heart must be right and ready. Stedman writes, “The flesh allows us to relate only to the passing moment, to the changing scene, the surface of life, which touches our emotions and centers our attention upon them so that what concerns us is only how we are feeling at the moment.” That is why Billy Graham would always admonish those who came forward at the altar call to find a good Bible-believing church. The heart must not be allowed to harden; it must be more than just an emotional rush.
Notice again the soil. There is a deeper thought here. It does not say that there were no rocks in the soil, or that there were not roots of thorny plants. Matthew Henry states, “That which distinguished this good ground from the rest, was, in one word, fruitfulness. He does not say that this good ground had no stones in it, or no thorns; but there were none that prevailed to hinder its fruitfulness. This is the second key element–fruitfulness. The seed planted in the prepared soil will produce fruit. To produce good fruit the soil must be ready. Barclay states it like this: “First, he listens attentively. Second, he keeps what he hears in his mind and heart and thinks over it until he discovers its meaning for himself. Third, he acts upon it. He translates what he has heard into action.”
Go back to the verse in Luke, “by persevering produce a crop.” It doesn’t happen overnight. True, if the “sinner’s prayer” is said from the heart, the person is saved, but then there must be nurturing. However, many times it is but an emotional outburst, a flippant phrase. The soil hasn’t been prepared properly. The farmer knows it takes time for the seed to germinate, the crop to grow, and the fruit to develop. He watches, he cultivates, then the harvest comes. But Jesus gives a word of warning that we read in John. Our root system must be in the true vine. We cannot grow apart from Him. John writes, “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” (15:6, NKJV) This is a fruitless vine. John writes further, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (15:8, NKJV)
You will be My disciples if you bear fruit. To do so, there must be endurance, perseverance and a willingness to bear the cross that has been given to us. It does not happen overnight; the work is painstaking, but the soil is prepared, the seed is sown, and now…growth can occur. Discipleship will happen as there is deeper and more understanding.