Read: Matthew 13:23, Psalm 1
THE FERTILE SOIL
I grew up in Nebraska, and most of you know that Nebraska is farm country. There are cornfields everywhere. Now this may sound totally crazy to you, but those of us who grow up in farm country think there is something strangely cool about a freshly-tilled field. Dark, fertile soil, mounded in straight rows, the air filled with the smell of moist earth. Why is it cool to us? It's because we know that in a matter of weeks, that freshly-tilled field will be full of row upon row of green shoots - the beginning of a new crop. In the soft and fertile soil of that field, the roots of the new plants will grow deep and strong, drawing water and nutrients from the earth and producing a bountiful crop. Now Nebraska also has a lot of storms during the growing season, so it is important that the crops grow deep roots so that they can withstand the frequent storms. To help the roots grow deep and strong, farmers will also fertilize their fields regularly. So right now you're probably wondering what cornfields in Nebraska have to do with all of this, right? Here's the answer: God's Word is the seed and the fertile soil should be our hearts. When we hear God's Word and let it sink into our minds and hearts, it will take root and grow, producing fruit in our lives. This fruit is things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. All the things that would make us look more like Christ if we lived them out in our day to day lives. But in our daily lives, we will also face the storms - the temptations of the world - so our roots must be deep and strong so that we can withstand them. To make our roots strong, we must regularly fertilize our hearts by staying connected to God through reading His Word and prayer. I pray, students, that your hearts will be just like a freshly-tilled field, full of fertile soil, ready to receive the seed of God's Word. And finally, I pray that God's Word will grow deep roots in your heart, so that you can bear much fruit and stand strong against the temptations of the world!
Filed under Jeff's Journal
