Andra and I were riding around today and as we came back to our apartment we noticed some of the cedar trees on the property that had long since replaced other cedar trees that had died. The new ones are now dead also and I told her "It must be something in the soil that killed them or kept them from growing. To which she said " I see a new blog coming." So here it is, fresh off the press of living life.
When we think about soil we tend to lean more toward what Jesus spoke to in the parable of the sower in Matthew 13. I am going to speak to those of you who are born again and the need to not let the seed in your die because of bad soil. There is a killer soil that will keep a victorious life from sprouting, and no matter how many times you try to replant, the end result is a dead and apathetic life. When we are born again our soil has been restructured and made new and very positive for growing a wonderful life. In John 10:10, Jesus speaks to the life He is offering, and it is a life of abundance in every form. Warning: Don't let some who speak only to being blessed financially take away from what happens when a seed is planted in fertile soil. Fertile soil is soil that will produce. Believe it and not just because I say it, but because of what God's Word says. In Philippians 3, Paul speaks to what is capable in us if we realize who is inside of us and what He has done to change our soil.
We receive God's righteousness when we receive Jesus by faith, and it has an effect on our inner self and limits the sinful life that many others follow. God changes our "want to." But there is so much more He wants to do. Paul speaks of "perfection" for each of us and that immediately causes an uproar in any of us who look at this through human reasoning. Here are some very important verses in Philippians 3: 7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
The possibilities for living a more Godly life are awesome if we live that life in the power of the Holy Spirit and only if our soil is receptive to the changes God wants to make. Changes? You may think I am good where I am right now and choose to reject the opportunity to see God do an ever greater work in your life. If you are in that mindset then your soil is rejecting the nutrients that God gave you when He changed your life and instead of soaring on the wings of eagles you are content to not fly at all. A soil that has been tainted by the hopelessness of a lost and dying world will never grow anything that glorifies God. God does want us to continue to grow and strive toward yes, perfection. Uh Oh I said it....
Paul explains more about the perfection he is talking about in Philippians 3: 12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Looks like a life of mediocrity is not the best way to go, but if our soil is tainted that is all we will grow. The sad part is we settle for that life when a better life is promised. To get there and acquire the soil that is receptive to such a seed is easy. Yes, easy. Ask God to show you what to do with a receptive heart and He will stir a burden in you that will awaken your spirit as never before.
Careful though. Just going through the "motions" in our life will not satisfy because you receive and believe the truth that "there is more." God is waiting to grow that seed, but your soil needs to change and your thinking needs to follow what God's Word is telling you. No longer will "daily Bible readings" satisfy you. You have a deeper burden to look at things like God and that is because His righteousness is in you and that compels you to move deeper and grow more in your faith walk. This is called "spiritual maturity" and Paul says those who are mature will think in these ways. Philippians 3: 15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. 16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.
What new thing is God calling you to? Is your soil untainted and ready to receive it? Then a great life of abundance will be produced and that kind of life will spread this truth wherever you go. It is a life of possibilities. Satan wants us to be content with scraps from the master's table, but God calls us His children, and He wants to produce a great harvest through our lives, but it won't happen if we don't have receptive soil. Let this new seed come alive, and God will take you to heights you never thought possible. God's Word is all about us coming alive, and maybe today will be your day. Praise God if that is the case. Offer the Good Soil and see what happens!!
Vesselogical Out,
David Warren
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