As Jesus told the parable of the Sower, “He would call out, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear.’” (Luke 8:8)

Our minds are open to so much in the world today…but are our minds open to God and His truths? Are we “brain washed” to the extent that we tune out God’s words of truth? Being politically correct today often calls for us to reject God’s word in favor of a world view.

Jesus told the parable of the Sower and stated that the seed sown was God’s word. Then He went on to give us a picture of four different soils (or people) who heard God’s word and what they did with it. (NASB) Luke 8:5-15

Seed sown beside the hardened path was about the people who heard God’s truth but the birds came and ate it up…the devil takes away God’s word from people’s hearts so they do not believe and are not saved from their sins. Hardened hearts refuse to listen!

Seed which falls on rocky soil is about people who hear God’s word and they receive it with joy…but then temptations come and they do not believe, the word did not take root deep into the soil of their rocky heart.

Seed which falls among the thorns of our lives (worries, riches, pleasures – whatever is taking precedence over God and His word at the moment in our lives)…no fruit comes to maturity because other things choke out God’s words of truth.

Seed which falls in good soil is revealed by changed lives, changed thinking, changed responses to God and His word! Noble, honest, virtuous and good hearts receive God’s word and it is nurtured, taking deep root within our lives and producing fruit because of perseverance in believing what God says is truth.

Four soils…four responses…what is your response to God’s word?