Speaking the Truth in Love
Heart Lessons: What Kind of Soil Am I?
What Kind of Soil Am I? (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23)
Examples of poor soil:
· Jewish Leaders (Luke 7:29-35)
· Sadducees (Acts 4:1-3)
· Jews at Stephen’s defense (Acts 7:54-59)
· Herod (Acts 12:1-4)
· Majority (Acts 17:22, 32)
· Agrippa (Acts 26:28)
Examples of good soil:
· Tax collectors (Luke 7:29)
· Jews on Pentecost (Acts 2:36-41)
· The many (Acts 4:4)
· Cornelius (Acts 10:1-8, 22-23)
· Few (Acts 17:33-34)
· Paul (Acts 9:3-9, 17-20)
What kind of soil are you? Soil here is really our heart and mind. Soil conditions can change. Bad soil can be changed to good and produce good fruit with proper preparation and nutrients (Paul is an example). Good soil can also become poor soil if the soil is not taken care of properly (1 Timothy 1:18-20).
We need to make sure that what we do as churches and individuals is approved in God’s Word. Man comes up with ideas that sound good to man, but they may not be acceptable to God. Only one kind of soil or heart is pleasing to God (Matthew 7:21-24, James 1:21-25). That is the soil that hears what Jesus says and does it! Not by adding ideas of man!
Let us all try to have good soil and hearts like Lydia (Acts 16:13-15, 40)! She wanted to hear the gospel and she was ready to obey. She wanted to be baptized because she wanted to become a Christian! Then she started bearing fruit from her good soil and heart for the Lord! What a wonderful example for us all!
In closing, let us read Romans 12:1-2 together! We hope to see you next time on "Speaking The Truth In Love"!
