SOAP 04/26/2012; Matthew 13:8

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13
     
S)"⁸ And others fell on the good soil and *yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."
     

Matthew 13:8 (NASB)

*Original Greek text used present tense verbs for added emphasis
    

O) This is an amazing promise that I've kind of taken for granted, I think! Consider this growth at work here. This is a parable of the words of God (seed) and the hearts of men (soil). If the seed is sown into good soil, we are guaranteed a good result! Not only are we guaranteed positive yield, but it's BIG positive yield! The minimum return is 30 times the investment! Now, I realize that it's difficult to quantify the impact that the word of God has on our lives, but it's clearly well beyond normal results. Nothing else we study, and no other book on the planet is going to improve our lives this way, because the Bible is so much more than text. There is one condition to this promise; there is a key, if you will. Have good soil. Our hearts must be in good position to receive this seed. The better the heart condition, the better the yield.
    
A) So, nothing I read or study is going to enrich and improve my life like the Bible. The important thing, though, is that my soil is not hard. Seed needs to be sown into into fertile, soft soil. In order for me to be sure God's words are going to bear fruit in my life, I need to be sure I am tilling my heart, so to speak. I need to break up any hard parts I find. The more I can soften my heart toward God, the more the positive result. While I can rejoice that my yield will at least be thirtyfold, I want to strive to yield a hundredfold.

     

P) Father, I thank You for this promise. Your grace is so abundant that I really can't open Your Word without finding it daily. This promise to yield fruit in my life, through the work of Your words in my heart, this is an amazing blessing. Holy Spirit, help me to till the soil of my heart. If I am ever unable to till it myself, then breakdown my hard heart for me. I don't want to miss any opportunities to be blessed by You, LORD. I want my life to be exactly as You intend it to be. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.