Daily Devotional For Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Congratulations. You made it to “hump” day — Wednesday. We live in a culture that is big on us wanting people to like us. We will go to great lengths in our attempts to insure this. We want to be liked, accepted and feel we are part of a group or some group. This is why in our teens, some of us may have even compromised our Christian beliefs and values to be liked and accepted by our peers. Bullying is tough on kids and even though as adults we do not see it as pronounced, we too can experience some form of peer pressure.

The Bible tells us in Galatian 6:7b-8, “For whatever one sows, that will he also reap. (8) For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (ESV). If you have ever planted a garden, have you ever things growing things you did not plant? Weeds seem to spout on their own even though you did not plant seeds for weeds. This tells me that the soil that is ideal for growing vegetables is also ideal for growing weeds. Then it comes to gardening, it requires vigilance, discipline, pruning, and hard work to get the outcomes you want. 

Jesus reminded us of this in a parable called The Parable of the Sower. Look at Matthew 13:1-9:

“Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. (2) A large crowd soon gathered around Him, so He got into a boat. Then He sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. (3) He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. (4)  As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. (5) Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. (6) But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. (7) Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. (8) Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! (9) Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand” (NLT).

As we look at this, pastor and author Chuck Swindoll writes this about parables:

Of all the teaching tools at Jesus’ fingertips, none had greater power to convey deep spiritual truths than the parable. Yet the parable was a double-edged sword. Not only could it reveal … it could also conceal. This is why Jesus preferred using parables when teaching a mixed audience of disciples and detractors. In fact, parables comprise more than one-third of Jesus’ recorded sayings. This unique form of illustrative storytelling accomplished two important objectives: It repelled hostile skeptics and equipped serious disciples.

The term “parable” is essentially a transliteration of the Greek word [παραβολή, parabolē]. This word connotes the idea of being “set alongside”—that is, drawing an instructive parallel between the story and the lesson or principle the teacher is trying to communicate. We might call it an illustration, but a parable is always told in the form of a narrative, either brief or long. Unlike an allegory, in which the figurative elements have direct, literal counterparts, a parable is intentionally less precise, focusing on a single big idea. Therefore, when interpreting parables, we need to guard against two errors: missing what’s of central importance in the illustrated truth and overanalyzing every detail. The first error would occur if somebody took the story as if it were a historical narrative, a record of actual events. The second would occur if somebody were to treat the story like an allegory, in which every detail has a direct connection to something literal.

In parables, a teacher uses common, everyday circumstances to communicate things that are unfamiliar or even supernatural. Parables appear to communicate something simple and obvious, but they invite the listener to think more deeply in order to really hear the truths being conveyed. Two factors make correct interpretation possible for the hearer.

First, a willingness to understand. An unteachable spirit will find it easy to twist a parable into nonsense and then reject the teacher as a fool. Hence, those who wanted to reject Jesus found more than enough justification—in their minds—to do so in His parables. They were confused or offended by what appeared to be either pointless meandering or shallow, folksy yarn spinning.

Second, spiritual discernment. The parables of Jesus reveal truths that exist beyond the present, natural realm. They may be heavenly truths or future, prophetic truths. His lessons can’t be accessed through scientific research. They must be revealed by someone able to transcend the natural world to comprehend the supernatural. 

Therefore, the listener must have the aid of the Holy Spirit and an interpretive key to understand the parables of Jesus. Fortunately, the Lord has promised to teach anyone willing to learn—those who have accepted Him for who He really is and thus have received the Holy Spirit as their Guide” (Source: Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary, “Matthew 1-15, p. 270).

Jesus was doing more than just giving an agricultural lesson and that is why He concluded with, “He has ears to hear, should listen and understand.” Because we hear what someone says, does not guarantee we are listening nor that we understand. The same is true spiritually. As we read God’s Word or listen to a sermon or participate in a Bible study, does not mean nor does it guarantee we are listening and understanding. So, let’s quickly look at the different types of soil Jesus mentioned.

First, words, like seeds, that fall on a “footpath,” are quickly taken away by other distractions. Most of us multi-task today and as we do, we will miss something. Sometimes something very important. And these “seeds” that fall on a footpath have an almost impossible potential of growing since a footpath has been hardened through years of people walking on it. 

Second, Jesus talked about shallow soil. Meaning, the top of it looks good but just below that surface are rocks. What appears to be good top soil, is not. As a farmer uses a hoe to scrape the soil, that farmer keeps hitting rocks with his or her hoe. Oh, you can plant seeds there and they will germinate, but due to the lack of depth of the soil, the plant or vegetable will die from the shallowness and the heat of the sun.

Third, Jesus talked about soil that had thorn bushes, like those which have them on the edges of a path or a field. These thorn bushes have seeds as well and to plant seeds there will only result in those thorn bushes or future thorn bushes and their vines choking out whatever you planted. These types of bushes and vines take over quickly and cover whatever is planted, robbing it of the sunlight it needs to grow.

Fourth, Jesus talked about good soil. This is soil that is rich in nutrients and deep, not contaminated nor choked out by rocks and thorn bushes. Not is it trampled on by feet nor invited by birds or scorched by the heat. Such good soil will produce a crop 30, or 60 or a 100-fold of what was planted. Meaning — on seed multiplies.

In Matthew 13:18-23, Jesus explained the parable:

“Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: (19) The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. (20) The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. (21) But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. (22) The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. (23) The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” (NLT).

We reap what we sow based on the soil we planted the seed in initially. So, let’s go back to where we started — desire to be liked. Let’s look at these “seeds” below:

• John 15:18-18, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. (19) If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (ESV).
• Matthew 10:22, “And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (ESV).
• 1 John 3:13, “Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you” (ESV).

Each of these verses is a seed that should germinate in the soil of our heart reminding us that we are not going to be liked by the world nor should we attempt to be liked by the world. Because the world is so fickle, it will like you one minute and dislike you the next minute based on the soil in their hearts. For some people, the soil of their heart has been walked on so much and hardened, they will never, ever like you no matter what you do for them. Other people are shallow and even if they initially like you, due to the distractions of this world, they can quickly move on past you to those distractions such as their peer groups. Third, for some people, the soil of their heart has been riddled with thorn bushes of abuse, hurt, rejection that choke out them liking you. Yet, there will be those where the soil of their heart will like you and always like you no matter what.

Yet, it has been my observation that many people spend so much of their time trying to get the fickle, wishy-washy and shallow people to like them, that they eventually can harm or lose the relationship to the people who are close to them. This is why we must make sure that the people who are our closest friends have the “good soil hearts” Jesus talked about in this parable. 

And just like with plants or vegetables, we have to be intentional to nurture that soil, weed it, fertilize it and water it. The Bible says this in 1 Corinthians 15:33b, “Bad company corrupts good character” (NLT). Our closest friends must be godly, holy and righteous. Their lives must honor God in all their ways. If not, our good soil will get corrupted by their thorn bushes and choke out our relationship to Christ. So, you may have heard what I wrote, but that does not mean you listened nor understood.

Questions To Consider

1. Why do you think we spend so much time and energy trying to get certain people to like us and in the end, they do not?
2. Would you say your closest friends mirror the heart of Jesus? They have His mission and purpose in their lives and when everyone sees them, they see Jesus Christ? Why or why not?
3. Based on question #1 above, what is the real issue or problem here? Is it the people who will never like us? Should we be going to a different kind of person or group to like us? Are we the problem and not them? Why?
4. Hearing is no guarantee of listening and understanding. When has this happened to you and what did you learn from it?
5. The Parable of the Sower is about the seeds of God’s Word hitting the soil of our hearts. How well does that seed germinate and grow in your heart?
6. What is the biggest challenge or obstacle for the seed of God’s Word to germinate and grow in your own heart and why?
7. What is the main crop your heart produces and why?

Scripture To Meditate On: Galatians 6:8, “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (ESV).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, help me to always be in the frame of mind to receive the seeds of Your Word. I want the soil of my heart to be good soil. Not shallow soil. Not rocky soil. Not soil with thorn bushes and weeds. Help me to have friends who mirror Your character, Your heart, and Your mission. In Jesus’ names, Amen!”

I love you Southside!—Pastor Kelly