Deeper Life #235

And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased.

—Mark 4:8

WHAT IS THE GOOD GROUND in the parable of the sower? This good ground is the heart that is ready to receive the Word of God. Paul told King Agrippa that Jesus sent him to the Gentiles to “open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God” (Acts 26:18). But this alone was not salvation; their salvation came when they accepted Paul’s message and received the forgiveness of sins.

I wonder how many who shall read these lines have really proven “good ground” to God! The question of whether your spiritual yield will be one hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold has nothing to do with it. Christ puts His Word into us, and we bring forth His fruit; and then He takes us and plants us and makes us what He pleases in this world.

The measure of my growth in grace is my growth in God’s sight, not in man’s sight. I wonder, do we listen to God’s Word and allow it to bear fruit?

Prayer Thought: Take my life, Lord, and make it what You want it to be.

SUGGESTED READING: Mark 4:6–13