Rocking fields in southern Idaho was an early temporary job that my friends and I would do. We would get paid to walk behind a tractor and trailer in the unplanted fields in early spring, picking up rocks that the freeze would bring to the surface through the winter. We would work, hang out and play around the fields and harvest equipment. Yet, I didn’t fully understand the whole process of sowing and reaping even though I grew up around the farming industry. But it was these memories that would later bring understanding and clarity to many Biblical principles that I would enjoy studying.

One such parable that we find is in Mark 4:3-20, where Jesus talks to the crowd about the farmer who sows seeds in the field. He reveals to His disciples deeper insight once the crowd leaves and it is more intimate. (vs10-11)

As Jesus unfolds this story to us He reveals the farmer as a messenger spreading seeds, which is the Word of God, in the field. The focus is not on any faultiness of the messenger or the seed, but on the condition of the soil. In Luke’s account of this parable, Jesus explains that the soil represents the field of our heart. (Lk 8:12)

Often we allow the weeds of life’s circumstances to defile our heart, causing God’s Word to fall on unprepared heart-soil. (tweet)

conditions are likened to four different types of soils along with the outcome of planting the seed in each one. Therefore, as the Word of God falls on our heart we find it necessary that the condition of our heart be receptive and prepared for bearing good fruit.

In Ps 51:10 King David knew that he had a heart condition making him drift from the things of God. After his sinful action and consequences of them, he cried out to the Lord, saying “Create in me a clean heart, O God”. David knew he had let his heart be defiled. To often along the journey of life we also allow the weeds of life’s circumstances to defile our heart, which can cause different reactions to God’s Word.

Back in the Gospel of Mark Jesus explains the seed falling on well-trampled and hard soil; where the birds of the air or the enemy of our soul comes and easily steals away the Word of truth, before it has a chance to be planted. Then secondly, we see the seed falling on shallow soil that has no depth because of underlining rock.

Let us be good farmers of our heart’s soil, making ready for the planting of God’s Word. (tweet)

lets us know if we don’t allow His Word to go down deep and bear roots in our life that at the first onslaught of persecution we will succumb to the pressure and the Word will wilt in us. Making our spiritual life stunted and immature.

Thirdly, when the Word falls amongst the soil of our heart full of thorns and thistles, it begins to grow and it is immediately choked-out by the weeds. Representing the cares of life overtaking our attention and priority stifling any spiritual growth.

Finally, the seed falls on good soil. It’s only when the Word of God is planted in good soil that it will produce a fruitfulness some thirty, sixty or a hundred fold. So we must tend to the field of our heart and make sure it is prepared for the word to grow in us. We do that by prayer and fasting, praise and worship and communing with the Holy Spirit. Let us be good farmers of our heart’s soil, making ready for the planting of God’s Word.