"But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it,
who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty"
Matthew 13:23
If we are following Jesus, knowing Him, talking to Him and learning from Him it will be apparent. Jesus does not say that the person who received the seed on good ground became a nice person. It does not say that their lives turned around and became happy all the time. He did not say they would even have a safe or comfortable life. Jesus said the one who hears the word and understands it will bear fruit and produce a harvest. The size of the harvest may vary but there will be one.
What about the person who hears the word and does not understand it? If that is the case they would fall into a different category (read Matt 13:18-23 for the full story). There are some that really don't understand the truth about Jesus but I believe they are few and far between. The word of Jesus Christ is very simple, it is so simple in fact that a child can understand. A child knows that they have done wrong in their life. They can understand that Jesus died as a punishment for their wrong doings. A child can understand that if they know and follow Jesus then they can be with Him in heaven when life is over. Still I have heard it more times that I care to remember; "I just don't understand what God wants from me." It is simple, He wants you – all of you.
When we understand the price that Jesus paid so that God could have all of us there is only one response, obedience and surrender. Not because God says we have to obey Him but because when we really realize what Jesus did, His suffering, His pain and anguish; the only response is to thankfully, lovingly follow Him with our lives. The result of this is a life that bears fruit. God at work in our lives not only changes us but impacts the lives of those around us.
What fruit does your life bear?
What does your life speak about the Jesus you follow?
Does your life show Jesus to anyone?
All seeds on good ground produce fruit. Some produce more fruit that others but they all produce fruit – What are you producing?
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