Bible Reading Blog
“The Nicest Yard”
Categories: Congregational Bible ReadingBIBLE READING: Luke 8
My neighbor across the street has the nicest yard on the block. It is green, manicured and weed-free because she takes care of it every day. My yard on the other hand is not given as much attention, and it shows. Although it looks nice, it is not uncommon for my yard to have overgrown edges or weeds in the yard. If you were to compare our yards today, the difference is evident. But that difference did not happen overnight. We each made decisions over time that produced two different outcomes.
So, it is with the condition of our hearts. In Jesus’ parable of the sower (Luke 8.4-8) he taught that our hearts are like soil that must be cultivated. If the soil is hard, or it has imperfections or weeds growing in it, the result will not be fruit but failure.
It is important to note that Jesus’ teaching does not look at the reaction to God’s word in a single moment but over a period of time. Just as with maintaining a beautiful lawn, spiritual fruitfulness takes patience and intentionality. It is a process developed by daily choices to hear the word and “hold it fast” (Luke 8.15).
To develop this process, there are 2 important things we must do:
1. Be honest about our priorities. My neighbor doesn’t have to tell me how much she cares about her yard; I know because she works on it every morning. I could blow smoke and tell you I care about my yard, but the results say something different. Until I am willing to be honest about my current situation, the results won’t change.
Our actions speak louder than words, but when both are in alignment and pointing towards spiritual growth, we have better clarity to make good choices.
2. Pull the weeds. Sometimes my neighbor’s yard has weeds… but they don’t last long. She pulls them out daily because she only wants good things growing in her yard. That’s the attitude we need when it comes to our spiritual lives!
It takes conscious effort to focus on God and his ways. Many of us have lives filled with activities and responsibilities, which are not inherently evil. However, these things may be weeds choking our growth. Jesus encourages us to constantly evaluate our lives and remove things detrimental to our spiritual focus.
Ultimately, God’s Word produces the growth, but we have incredible power to limit what it can do in our lives. It is critical to cultivate a way of life that embraces the Word of God as an agent of change and allows the Word to do its work.
“[hear] the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8.15)
