Spiritually speaking, all of us start out with “hard ground” and hard hearts toward God.
“Jesus told this parable: ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.” – Luke 8:4-5
This hard, compacted path represents all of us. We all start out with “hard ground” and hard hearts toward God. The “seed” of God’s Word can’t sprout or grow in our hard heart.
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23
“There is no one who does good, not even one.” – Romans 3:12
Continuing the parable:
“Some seed fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.’” – Luke 8:5-7
All of us have “hard ground” in our soul towards God.
All of us have “rocky ground” in our soul.
All of us have “thorns” which grow up and choke out the “seed” of God’s Word.
But the good news is that Jesus came!
He didn’t have to come. But he did!
Jesus came to our “Death Valley” – our life of barren hard ground. Jesus came to “break up the hard ground” of our hard heart.
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions.” – Ephesians 2:4
Jesus does a miracle to soften our hard heart of resistance!
Jesus does a miracle to soften our hard heart of pride!
Jesus does a miracle to soften our hard heart of stubbornness … and selfishness!
Jesus turns the “Death Valley” of our life into flourishing! And fruitfulness!
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air [this would be Satan!], the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” – Ephesians 2:1-2
“All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath [meaning: we deserved the wrath of God because of our sin!].” – Ephesians 2:3
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” – Ephesians 2:4
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees.” – Ezekiel 36:26-27
Thank you Jesus that you break up the hard, resistant, proud, stubborn, selfish ground of our soul … and you soften our hard hearts!!
Thank you Jesus for your miracle of turning the hard ground of our hard heart into soft soil to be fruitful for you!!
* A heart that is tilled.
* A heart that is plowed. (aka: broken up)
* A heart that is surrendered!
* A heart that is humble.
* A heart that is changed.
* A heart that is fruitful!
