Influencers Weekly Devotional- Go With Me

Go With ME

Embracing our Sacred Responsibility with Christ

                                      The Fourth Seed: 

"And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."  Matthew 13:23 – NASB

  Don’t you love the parables of Jesus?  Until He explained their meaning to His close followers, and then to us by way of God’s written word, we are left scratching our head, along with the people who first heard them.  They were simple, earthy and organic, but frankly, they were over the heads of the listeners, until He explained them.  When He did so, the deep meaning of these parables opened the eyes and hearts of His followers, and they continue to unfold truth and relevancy to this day.  These Kingdom Secrets provide “sign posts, channel markers, and beacons,” pointing to a path God would have His followers walk on.  They also show us when we are away from this path.  For instance, the passage above points to a place God would have His children dwell.  It is a place called, “good soil.”  This place of residency for God’s child provides a nurturing environment, allowing tremendous spiritual growth to occur.  This growth will, in turn, inspire a multitude of positive changes in the person.  “Good soil” is a place God wants us to live, not just visit. The “good soil” analogy is similar in connotation to our favorite passage in John 15:4.  In this passage, Jesus uses another organic comparison, by illustrating the vine, the branch and the fruit produced, to point to the need to abide in Him.  Do you get it?   Good soil produces fruit.  Abiding in Him produces fruit.   “Good soil and abiding in Him” are the same.  Understand the relevancy? Jesus’ parables also show us when we are off the right path, as was the case of the first three seed conditions.  So, let’s look at Jesus’ illustrations.  First, I ask you to read the entire discourse about the parable of the four seeds found in Matthew 13:1-23.  When you do so, look for the cause and effect that keeps a believer from the good soil, and what must be done to get to a “good soil” condition in our life.   Let’s get a better understanding, by reviewing the various conditions Jesus is greeted by, as He invites all people to Himself:

• The seed is God’s word.  It is pointed out the seed is being sown in people in all conditions, so no one can complain that they didn’t get a fair chance at the start.  Keep in mind, John 1:1 points out:  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  And in verse 14 we read: ”And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  So, the “seed, or word” being sown in the four people mentioned in the parable is not only God’s written word, but also Jesus Christ Himself, the Word that became flesh.

• The four soil conditions represent the growing medium for the “seed” to be received, to grow and reproduce.  It is presented from a horticulture standpoint.  But Jesus wasn’t teaching a Master Gardener’s class.  He was illustrating a condition in the life of a person that prevents Him from coming into the man, living in the man, growing in the man, and reproducing in a man’s life.

  I’m sure there are different opinions about the four people, as to which ones would be true Christians.  In my opinion, I feel the ones represented by the third and fourth seeds are the only ones.  You might have a different opinion, based on a different theological view.  However, let’s stick with these two seed conditions I mentioned, so I can make my point.  I believe you will agree with where I am going with this when I complete the thought. A couple weeks ago I was in San Antonio, meeting with some Christian businessmen.  I reviewed with them the same information I just illustrated above and then asked: “As you observe Christian men you go to church with, work with, even play golf with, what percentage would you say are in the third seed category?”  The consensus was about 90%.  I shared this information with my wife, and she said, “And women.  This is true for women, as well.”  I haven’t read any studies on this, but I have seen the following “entanglements” in most Christians I have observed, whether they attend church or not:

Most Christians, even those who regularly attend church:

•  Are too busy to read their Bibles and seek their wisdom from secular sources, rather than God’s word.

•  Can’t tithe, even if they wanted to do so.  If they could, they would still choose lifestyle over self-denial and obedience to God.

• Go to church regularly, though some only on Easter and Christmas.
•   Constantly worry if they have enough money to make payments on their debt and don’t seem to be able to conquer it.
•   Worry if they will have enough financial resources for weddings, college expense, emergencies, retirement, etc.
•   Think the remedy for their worries is simply having more money, more material things, better job, rather than change of lifestyle.
•  Have difficulties in their marriage, due to financial tensions.
•   Measure their happiness by material wealth, but have never discovered the joy the Lord promises.
•  Are slaves to their habits, and do not know it.
•   Like the idea of being known as a Christian, but are unwilling to live radically different from their peers.
•  Are casual about their faith, their marriage and their values.
• Are casually committed, which leads to a casualty in their marriage and values.  – Casualty!! I repeat Casualty!!

  If you haven’t figured it out, think about it.  If a Christian remains in the 3^rd seed category, his life is headed for a casualty.  It will happen.  It will happen.  It is only a matter of time.  For this reason, we must prioritize our life to move it to the 4^th seed category, so that we can be nurtured by Christ and led away from the entanglements that will destroy our values, our witness, our marriage, our joy, and our life.  It is a serious condition to remain in the 3^rd seed category.  But, what can we do about it?   Look what scripture says:   Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  Hebrews 12:1-3 - NIV   I know what you are thinking.  You are thinking good theology, but how does it apply to my situation?  Look at some key words again:

“let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles”

 If you have identified that you are in the 3^rd seed category, start your journey to the 4^th category with prayer immediately.  Ask God to give you a plan for reducing your debt and paying it off. Ask Him to control your appetite for material things.  Now be obedient.  Put a spending freeze on your credit card spending and rid yourself of that debt.  If you are married, this must be an agreement between couples.  Therefore, make a holy covenant with each other,and with God to do what it takes to get to the 4^th seed category.  Begin tithing.  This is something that delights God, and He promises to bless you as a result.  Carve out time every day to spend time alone with God in His word.  Allow His wisdom and precepts to reprogram your values.  We live in a world value system that fosters the 3^rd seed category, and it is essential for you to see things through His perspective, to clearly understand the truth of your condition.

“run with perseverance”

Realize moving from the 3^rd seed category to the 4^th will be a struggle.  In fact, it will likely be a spiritual war for you.  Therefore, it is essential that you and your wife establish a commitment before the Lord to not give up when the challenges come, and they will come.

 “fix our eyes on Jesus”

Jesus is the “good soil.”  Fix your eyes on Him.  He is the target you are pursuing.  You are not just pursuing a different lifestyle, although the one you have needs to be changed.  You are pursuing a deeper engagement with Christ, where He can nurture you more deeply, and form you into the person He can make of you.  Your effort to rid yourself of the hindrances keeping you from this deeper life with Him is the challenge.  This is what it means to throw off everything that hinders. This divestment will prove to be the best investment you will ever make for your personal happiness, joy, significance, purpose, and the abundant life God wants to give you. The first 50 years of my life I lived in the 3^rd seed category, and experienced all the struggles this place gives a Christian.  I wanted out, and I wanted the 4^th seed category.  I just didn’t know how to get to it.  I asked for a plan, and God directed me.  Therefore, the steps I share with you are not just theories.  They are how God led me.  This path leads to the place most Christians long for, and I have now walked on for several years.  I pray that you too will walk this path.  If you do, you will understand what you’ve been missing. To our King’s glory, Rocky FOR A DOWNLOADABLE FILE OF THIS DEVOTIONAL, CLICK HERE