When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Matthew 16.13-16
God’s communion with mankind began in a Garden: A garden of well-tended landscapes, gentle breezes, and flowing streams. The ground was perfect for harvesting the fruit that grew there. You can bet you have never seen a more picturesque landscape for God’s communion with man.
Today farming isn’t even listed on the census for occupations. You can go days, weeks, and even years without seeing a garden, much less planting seeds and harvesting fruit. So, how can a story told two thousand years ago resonate anew with a society that knows little about the subtle intricacies of tending the soil? And can such a society grasp the eternal significance of the truth shared about how God works within the soil of man?
In the ‘Parable of the Sower’ Jesus reveals to those “who have ears to hear” four different types of soil and the resulting crop that springs forth from each. Later in the day Jesus unfolds the meaning before His disciples and the meaning becomes clear, only one will produce fruit. Some seed has no shot at all, others quickly sprout but are burned off, and still others start out well, but fail to produce in the end.
Are the principles at work in the soil present in other areas of life too? Can we improve the soil and increase the harvest? Perhaps by taking a closer look at the soil we can turn the hard ground over, revealing the miracle in you that lies just beneath the surface.
Don’t give up! Dig in, get dirty, and unleash the Lion!
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