A SPIRITUAL DUST BOWL
- Key Verse
- "Hear then the parable of the sower." (Matthew 13:18)
READ THE PASSAGE
Central Truth
How I listen and respond is key to whether the soil of my heart lies barren or proves fertile for producing fruit that will last an eternity.
Reflections
Growing up, I spent my summers 80 miles north of Amarillo on a wheat farm. Twelve hours a day, I rode an old International Harvester pulling a one-way chisel over hard ground, preparing it to receive seed we hoped would one day produce bushels of wheat.
Some years were green. Some were lean.
My mom grew up in Dalhart, and she remembers the Dust Bowl. Around the high plains, the 1930's were known as the Dirty 30's, as millions of acres lost their topsoil and couldn't grow crops of any kind or quality.
In today's passage Jesus talks about soil, seed, and a sower. The sower is God working through a person who obediently walks the fields of life, sowing seed among the people. The seed is the message of the Kingdom of God. The soil is the heart of those who hear the message.
Same sower, same seed, different soil producing different results. The first heart was too hard to receive the seed. The second heart was so shallow the seed took no root. The third heart invited weeds so the seed was choked out. In all three soils the results were the same: no root, no shoot, no fruit.
The fourth heart was different. This soil responded appropriately so that the seed was able to take root and produce a crop.
As the soil is to the seed, so is my heart to the message of the Kingdom. It is all about how I listen and respond.
There was a time when my life was a spiritual dust bowl. My heart was hard, shallow, and full of weeds and goathead stickers. When I learned the basics of how to grow in Christ and began to PUT HIS WORD INTO ACTION, I started to see a small green shoot break through the parched land of my life. By God’s grace I am now experiencing the richness of Christ in ways I never have before. I’m absorbing His Word daily, and through obedience I'm discovering the love, grace, mercy, and peace of God in every area of my life.
Dust bowl no more.
Discussion Questions
1. Which of the four soils best reflects your heart right now?
2. What active steps can you take today to improve the condition of your heart?
3. How will you know if you are making forward progress? Hint: Look for fruit.
4. Are you sowing Kingdom seed in the field where God has placed you? If not now, then when? If not you, then who?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Name the four types of soils in verses 3-9.
2. Reread verses 18-23. What can you do today to make your heart like the productive soil?
Reggie
February 11, 2010 05:12 AM
"Dust bowl no more". May that be true of me and all of us who know Christ. Thanks for the devotional today.
Christman
February 11, 2010 06:52 AM
The wisdom of Texas living, your use of analogies lend a refreshing perspective. Thank ya Bill!
barbara roberson
February 11, 2010 07:30 AM
That was one of the best explanations of the the sower and the seeds i have seen. Great job,honey!
Jan
February 11, 2010 07:31 AM
Hey Bill, glad to see your smiling face on this snowy day, kinda feels like home, doesn't it? Wild how the Lord providentially chose this one for you, great word pictures about cultivating our hearts to receive the Lord and what He has in store for us if we'll just keep our hearts open. My car and I thank Him for you, and how He put us together to serve and listen for Him when he closed another class door for me. Love ya, Jan
Vince Yung
February 11, 2010 07:44 AM
Great passage, Bill! How often I wish I was the fertile soil. At times, I just want to start growing not thinking how it will grow. But, in my old age, I've learned that there are times of growth (to produce fruit) and there are times to grow (spiritually). I need to grow spiritually; learn of who He is, what He's done for me, and what His plans are for me. Then will I be able to grow and produce fruits for Him.
Rachel Summey
February 11, 2010 08:03 AM
I loved this! "no root, no shoot, no fruit." So true. Thank you for today's encouragement and the powerful tie this passage has to your life -- praise God! Dust bowl no more!
Tract Watson
February 11, 2010 08:05 AM
Bill, I loved your analogies-so perfect. Thank you for helping us plow through life.
brandy kilpatrick-patterson
February 11, 2010 08:06 AM
If I was a guy...I'd have a moustache like yours. You and you're wife are, as always....awesome!
Nelda Cimmerman
February 11, 2010 08:11 AM
Bill, once again, the Lord has used you in powerful ways to communicate His word. And for that, I am eternally grateful. Nelda
shari Macfee
February 11, 2010 08:48 AM
Great job Bill....you and Barb have touched many lives. I am proud to call you my friend.
John Cimmerman
February 11, 2010 08:51 AM
Bill thank you for a reminder to put God's Word into action. That's a message I need to apply daily. Thank you for leading the Equipped Disciple program it has had a profound impact on my life!
Bob Lamkin
February 11, 2010 08:53 AM
Thanks, Bill, for all you do for His glory and for letting me hang out in the reflected light.
Ray Bohlin
February 11, 2010 09:00 AM
Bill, thank you for a powerful and reflective devotional. All of our hearts are dry, parched ground or choked by weeds, unless we have yielded to the One who alone breaks up the hard ground or weeds the garden. The minute any of us starts to "coast" is when either the weeds take hold again or the rain stops coming. This the the primary strength of the culture at Watermark. No one is given the impression that "coasting" is acceptable. I am constantly challenged as Paul was, "to press on toward the goal to win the prize." I have been thinking about this parable lately and realizing how many of us in the universal church have either become parched or choked by the weeds of comfort and mateialism. Continuing to press on and finding ways to bring rains and weedeaters to those who think their garden is just fine and invite them into our own garden, is a major task today
Paul Gittemeier
February 11, 2010 09:06 AM
Does anyone else see the Godly irony here? Bill, the message you communicated is meaningful, well spoken and well taken. Something else resonates with me though... the fact the YOU (with your life story, background and experiences) were assigned THIS passage. No one could understand and reflect on it like you did! "No Root, No Shoot, No Fruit". "Some were lean, some were green". Awesome communication of a great message! Thank you.
Scott Kedersha
February 11, 2010 09:12 AM
I can't think of a better person to lead us through this passage than you Bill - you are fertile ground and live out what you have been taught. In turn, you have sown many seeds through your life. Largely because of your faithfulness, there's a whole lot of fruit around this place. Grateful for you Bill.
David
February 11, 2010 10:27 AM
BILL! AMEN! You were PREACHING to the choir to me on this passage! I am also GRATEFUL, the dust bowl is GONE in my life as well! It is truly WONDERFUL to see LIFE, and experience that LIFE that Jesus PROMISED, if we would FOLLOW Him! PRAISE GOD! AMEN! Thanks for your words TODAY!
Ben Pinto
February 11, 2010 10:41 AM
Atta Boy Wild Bill! Thanks for stirring my heart and getting me thinking this morning. Gig'em!
Bart
February 11, 2010 10:58 AM
Bill, Thanks for the simple and clear illustration. Please excuse me now...I have some weeding to do. Amen!
Rob
February 11, 2010 11:19 AM
Wild Bill ... I like that ... it fits ... I want a mustache like yours and I'm not even a girl! What great analogies and word pictures to communicate timeless truth. I agree with Paul comment above ... the Lord knew exactly who He wanted to write the devotional on this passage. Well done!
Martha
February 11, 2010 11:19 AM
Preach it brother! Sounds like you are warming up for Discipleship Teaching... Think your byline should be "No Root, No Shoot, No Fruit" ???
jake
February 11, 2010 11:38 AM
Wild Bill...great passage, great parable, great devo about our GREATEST Teacher! It's a pleasure being in the seed planting and watering business with you.
Brooke Mauritzen
February 11, 2010 11:51 AM
Bill- I echo Kedersha's sentiments above. You are a bold example of what it looks like to be fruitful and multiply. You are a major way God planted that own desire in my heart. Thanks for your faithfulness!
Dan Perge
February 12, 2010 12:02 AM
Awesome Devo Bill. I've turned your devo into prayer. May the Lord continue to help us "PUT HIS WORD INTO ACTION." as we yield to the leading of His Spirit in complete humility, surrender and loving obedience. Greatness. One of the best. Thank you Lord
Cal Caylor
February 12, 2010 03:34 AM
Thanks Bill for puting this passage into perspective and reminding us to continue tilling our soil. This passage reminded me of some words God sent to me soon after I became a believer. Like a young seed that’s been sown In soil laden heavy with stone I too have blossomed Yet never really grown My faith must be toiled Planted deep in the ground My heart will not be spoiled If my soul is spiritually sound Thanks for the reminder!
Sue Bohlin
February 12, 2010 05:50 AM
Bill, when it's time for the 2011 Journey writers to gather for instruction, I'm going to nominate your devo as an example of greatness. You used your personal experience to connect with and open up the scripture to us in a powerful way. It's well-written and, even better, well-lived! Bless you, brother!
Bethany Grubb
February 17, 2010 03:36 PM
What a great picture! Thanks Bill! Your life is an inspiration as you faithfully focus on the two most important things: the Word of God and the souls of men.