Read: Luke 8:4-15
Some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold. (v. 8)
My home in the Pacific Northwest sits in a large valley once filled with a river. When attempting to landscape our yard, my husband and I have experienced the frustration of trying to cultivate new growth in rocky, silty, riverbed dirt. Try as we might, some things simply will not grow here without the right kind of soil. The same principle is true with the soil of our hearts.
It’s no surprise that Jesus uses farming imagery when speaking to a community of people whose lives often depended upon growing their own food. This is an audience who knows just how much soil conditions matter, and how futile it is to scatter seed on uncultivated soil. If we are to soak in the nutrients of the gospel so that it may multiply and bear fruit in our lives, Jesus says that one thing is required: deeply rooted, steadfast endurance.
It is possible to joyfully receive the “seed” that is “the word of God” (v. 11), but if we are not deeply rooted in our faith, then our initial zeal won’t count for much. Only the plant that is deeply rooted will be able to endure the storms of life. When Jesus taught about kingdom flourishing, he often spoke in terms of bearing fruit, which takes patience and persistence. When we partner with God in cultivating a deeply rooted spiritual life, Jesus promises that we will flourish into abundant life (John 10:10).
As you pray, ask Jesus for the patient endurance needed to grow more deeply in his love and bear fruit abundantly.
Katelyn J. Dixon is a contemplative writer, speaker, and poet living in the Seattle area. In her free time, Katelyn enjoys cooking, photography, and exploring the enchanting Pacific Northwest with her husband, Drew, while partnering with him in life and ministry.
