“Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop.” (Matt. 13:8)
Expanded Passage: Matthew 13:8-23
Have you ever been caught up in a moment that felt too good to be true? Everything just seemed to be right, the way things were meant to be. Every once in a while I find myself in one of those moments where love, laughter, and lively hearts seem to express the language of heaven.
God had such a moment when he created human beings in the garden of Eden. After God had put the final touches on Adam and Eve, God declared the world to be “very good” (Gen. 1:31). Our good God created us for a good life, a fruitful life.
When we accept God’s free gift of salvation, we have an opportunity to experience the best possible life in the good soil. This is the life Jesus longs to give us. A life planted in good soil is characterized by humility, a teachable spirit, an acceptance of truth, and a willingness to obey.
Those who produce good fruit have recognized that sin no longer has a place in their hearts, and they live to love. When we are aligned with the will of God, nothing can snatch our joy and desire to spread the love of God to everyone we meet. The result is a strong, balanced, fruitful life.
Listen for God’s direction, and act in obedience.
Ed Love serves as the executive director of Church Multiplication and Discipleship for The Wesleyan Church and as an adjunct professor at Wesley Seminary (IN). He has been active in ministry for more than twenty years.
© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
