Thought for Thursday, January 24th

January 24, 2013

Soil Quality

Do you bloom where God has planted you?

The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.  And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;  And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:  But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 13:1-9

“Most American churchgoers are the soil that chokes the seed because of all the thorns.  Thorns are anything that distracts us from God. ”

-       Francis Chan

Many horticultural references are made throughout scripture.  We are referred to as vines grafted into the branch, defining the source of our nourishment.  We are instructed to yield the fruits of the spirit and if we fail to do so we may be subject to pruning.  And in the parable above our spiritual lives: our growth: and our effectiveness as servants is defined by the soil in which we choose to have our lives planted, which will in effect affect the ability of our spiritual lives to grow.

Are we blooming where we are planted in the optimum soil of God’s word, His presence and communion with Him?  And even if we do show signs of having had some growth is it old growth or are we sprouting and showing signs of fresh growth?   Or could we possibly be producing thorns and thistles within the garden of God’s work where we are; by being contentious, disharmonious and an impediment to the movement and work that God is trying to accomplish in the area where we have taken root?

Scripture tells us in John: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” – John 12:24

In short this means we must be willing to let go of what we think or maybe even want and we need to allow God to plant, nourish and nurture, as well as prune and cut back when He needs too, so that we can grow, produce and be the best producing plant, figuratively speaking, that we can be in the best soil that He chooses for us.

Today’s Prayer

Father, may I always be willing to submit the growth, nurturing and even pruning processes in my life to you, knowing that you always know what is best.