“But the good soil represents honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s message, cling to it, and steadily produce a huge harvest.” - Luke 8:15
The Bible says, “The way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that is produced” (Matthew 7:20). The authentic Christian hears and receives the Word of God, makes sure the roots of that seed go deep into her thinking, weathers the storms of opposition, and does not allow worry weeds or pleasure’s pretty flowers to choke the fruit that is inevitable if the conditions are right.
When the Bible talks about fruit, it is referring to character (Galatians 5:22-23). If we fill our lives with good soil, we will need to bring forth his fruit “with patience.” Character is not grown in a single night. It takes a long time to learn self-control and love, to live peaceably with all people, or to suffer long and patiently. Finally, a word of caution: It is the Sower who will judge and test the soil. That is not our job. The fruit should give us a hint as to where people stand. But in the last analysis, the Savior will decide.
I dreamt death came the other night
and Heaven’s gates swung wide.
An angel with a halo bright
ushered me inside.
And there to my astonishment stood folks
I’d judged and labeled
As “quite unfit,” “of little worth,”
and “spiritually disabled.”
Indignant words rose to my lips, but
never were set free,
For every face showed stunned surprise;
No one expected me!
For Further Study: Luke 8:1-18
Excerpted from The One Year Devotions for Women, Copyright ©2000 by Jill Briscoe. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
For more from Jill Briscoe, please visit TellingtheTruth.org.
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