“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, NKJV).
This setting of scriptures deals with the planting of seeds and reminds us that not all seeds are planted in good ground, nor do they all bring the same harvest. I want to draw your attention to the good seed in the good ground. God’s Word is always good seed. We become good ground when we are yielded to God’s will in our life. Good seeds planted in good ground will always bring a harvest. We often look at our kids, especially those who seem to be going astray, and ask ourselves, “What happened?” I want to remind you that the good seed of God’s Word that has been planted in our kids will bring forth a good harvest. Seeds will not sprout until the soil is the right temperature and they have been planted for the right number of days. Do not give up on them; continue to pray, in essence, water the seeds, and thank God for a harvest.
The definition of good ground is ground that is valuable, virtuous, honest, and worthy of preparation. We meet all of these requirements when we yield our life to God. When we receive the Word, which is the seed, and it is planted into the good ground, it will bear much fruit and bring the harvest. As we hear God’s Word, our hearing must be mixed with faith, and as we understand, our understanding must use God’s knowledge and faith to bring about results. This scripture says that good ground is he who hears the Word and understands. It is not merely a passive or casual hearing, but it is a hearing that is seated on the Word of God and an understanding that is not a natural or casual understanding, but an understanding built on faith in the promises of God. In reality, the seeds are not ours but God’s. Preparing the ground is our yielding to God’s will, and God will bring the harvest. As you go through the issues of life, I encourage you to remember that good seed (God’s Word) and good ground (a yielded life to God) will always produce a harvest.
