On Saturday, we had a church picnic after doing some street evangelism. I mentioned to a friend that I find it hard to evangelize because people on the streets often don’t like to be bothered, don’t want to be spoken to, or simply throw away the tracts we give them. It reminded me of the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-23; people are different and respond differently to the same message. The only thing we can do is speak to people, share the Word of God, pray for those we’re trying to reach, and allow the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts.
THE HARD PATH (The Resistant Heart) – Matthew 13:4 & verse 19
Some people hear the gospel, but it just bounces right off. Like seed falling on a high way, there’s no way for it to sink in. Jesus said the evil one snatches it away before it has a chance to grow. Either the cars driving crush it or the wind blows it away or the birds pick it up. Because the ground is so hard, even without external interference, there still is no way for the seed to sink in.
This can be because of pride, past hurt, lack of understanding or simple disinterest. Sometimes hearts need to be broken before the Word can take root. That’s where prayer, love, and patience come in.
THE ROCKY SOIL (The Shallow Heart) – Matthew 13:5–6 & 20–21
Then there are those who respond quickly and joyfully but it doesn’t last. Their roots never go deep, so when trouble comes, their faith withers.
I’ve seen this happen when people rely on emotion rather than building a real foundation in Scripture, prayer, and community. Faith needs depth to survive the heat of trials.
Unfortunately a lot of believers are like this. We love the concept of Christianity, having a father up there in heaven granting our wishes, fighting our battles, looking out for us…..But when it comes to putting in the work or the moment we do get want we want, we become insufferable, blame God, turn from Him and look for alternatives.
Some of us look real on the outside but we know deep down, that we’re empty. We can’t answer simple questions about our Christian identity, we can’t defend ourself and our God and when we speak there is little substance. How can we ever bear fruit like this?
THE THORNY SOIL (The Distracted Heart) – Matthew 13:7 & 22
This one might be the most common today. The Word takes root, but “the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth” choke it.
It’s not that people stop believing; it’s that they get so busy, distracted, or entangled with other things that there’s no room for fruit to grow. We can’t grow a healthy crop if our lives are full of weeds.
Some only think about making money, some want constant pleasure & instant gratification, some don’t know how to multitask. It’s ironic how the same thing you were praying to God for years could be the very same thing to distract you from Him.
You can’t grow in something if you never spend time on that thing. We study to get our degrees, work hard so we can be paid, hustle so we can survive YET when it comes to the things of God we don’t put in effort but expect results.
THE GOOD SOIL (The Receptive Heart) – Matthew 13:8 & 23
Finally, Jesus describes the good soil; those who hear, understand, and bear fruit. Fruit is the evidence of a healthy root system: changed character, good works, and disciples made.
Good soil isn’t perfect soil, it’s surrendered soil. It’s an obedient soil, one can can weather through times and seasons and not just survive but also bear fruit. It is soil that is taken care of and looked after. Without proper care and caution, good soil can also be ruined.
Every soil had to adapt to the kind of seed planted on it. It takes time and care for one to bear fruit and there’s no need for us to compare ourselves with another.
Growing apples and growing corn require different circumstances and in their own time those seeds bear fruit. We can’t all be corn and we can’t all be apples.
To cut the long story short, the seed isn’t the problem since it never changes. The soil determines the effect the seed will have. Ask yourself:
What kind of soil is my heart? What seed has been planted in my heart? How much time is needed? What do I have to do to be fruitful?
Even hard soil can be softened, rocky soil deepened and thorny soil cleared by the grace of God, so don’t give up and keep pushing.
Stay Blessed x
