This is something I have heard several times this week and not just when I have been watching Facing the Giants (I think it is my 9 year olds 'new' favorite movie). This however is something that we must all evaluate in ourselves regularly.
What does it mean to prepare your fields? Simply put to have faith in the Lord. We see the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:1-23. It tells us a story about a man who carelessly throws his seeds wherever they may land. In doing so the seeds landed in different types of areas. Some on the path, some on rocks, some in shallow soil, some among the thorns, and some on good soil. Each area had a different experience with the seeds.
The Path
The ones that feel on the path were eaten by the birds. It is explained that this occurs when we hear a message but do not understand it, it is then snatched up by evil. When we fail to get understanding for the word God is giving you it can easily be taken away from you. Think of it like this, If I told you we are to love one another, but you don't know what love is this message goes no where more than in one ear and out the other to be snatched by evil. If I said that you are to seek the Lord in all things, if you do not understand how or what it means to seek the Lord you will not do so and it will not stay with you, but be snatched up by evil.
The Rocks
The rocky ground resembles the individual who hears the word and will receives it with joy, BUT there is no soil for those roots to grow in so it only grows for a short time. This means that we hear and receive the Word but as we are tested and tried we often let the Word fall to the wayside and go back to our flesh reactions. We can hear that the word tells us that we are not to anger quickly and rejoice in it and walk away excited to follow through with that commandment. We may do great for a few days maybe even a month, but things start to get stressful, the kids are screaming and fighting, work is overwhelming you, finances are becoming rough and slowly through all of these stressors you lose your cool more and more until you can no longer have that Word and your fleshly desires take over.
The Thorns
Thorns are prickly and sharp, rough around the edges, but even in the thorns there are some smooth places on the stock. These smooth spots are where they accept that Jesus is the Saviour, but do not want to give all to him. These are often the people who claim to be Christians, but do not give their whole self to Christ. There is a famous quote that states, let go, let God. This is where people struggle they want to hold on to their desires and not follow what God has for them. However, what God has for us will reap rewards bigger than we could ever imagine by our own desires and will. We are not fruitful when we are worried about our own desire and cannot bare the fruit needed for those around us.
Good Soil
This is what we should all desire, for seeds to be planted in good soil. This means we hear the Word, understand the Word, follow the Word, and bare the fruit from the Word. This means that you are open to what God has for your life. You are preparing for what God has next for you and ready to follow in whatever direction he has for you. This is what it means to be a follower or disciple for Christ. This is where we as Christian strive to be with our relationship with Christ.
What does it mean to prepare your fields? Simply put to have faith in the Lord. We see the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:1-23. It tells us a story about a man who carelessly throws his seeds wherever they may land. In doing so the seeds landed in different types of areas. Some on the path, some on rocks, some in shallow soil, some among the thorns, and some on good soil. Each area had a different experience with the seeds.
The Path
The ones that feel on the path were eaten by the birds. It is explained that this occurs when we hear a message but do not understand it, it is then snatched up by evil. When we fail to get understanding for the word God is giving you it can easily be taken away from you. Think of it like this, If I told you we are to love one another, but you don't know what love is this message goes no where more than in one ear and out the other to be snatched by evil. If I said that you are to seek the Lord in all things, if you do not understand how or what it means to seek the Lord you will not do so and it will not stay with you, but be snatched up by evil.
The Rocks
The rocky ground resembles the individual who hears the word and will receives it with joy, BUT there is no soil for those roots to grow in so it only grows for a short time. This means that we hear and receive the Word but as we are tested and tried we often let the Word fall to the wayside and go back to our flesh reactions. We can hear that the word tells us that we are not to anger quickly and rejoice in it and walk away excited to follow through with that commandment. We may do great for a few days maybe even a month, but things start to get stressful, the kids are screaming and fighting, work is overwhelming you, finances are becoming rough and slowly through all of these stressors you lose your cool more and more until you can no longer have that Word and your fleshly desires take over.
The Thorns
Thorns are prickly and sharp, rough around the edges, but even in the thorns there are some smooth places on the stock. These smooth spots are where they accept that Jesus is the Saviour, but do not want to give all to him. These are often the people who claim to be Christians, but do not give their whole self to Christ. There is a famous quote that states, let go, let God. This is where people struggle they want to hold on to their desires and not follow what God has for them. However, what God has for us will reap rewards bigger than we could ever imagine by our own desires and will. We are not fruitful when we are worried about our own desire and cannot bare the fruit needed for those around us.
Good Soil
This is what we should all desire, for seeds to be planted in good soil. This means we hear the Word, understand the Word, follow the Word, and bare the fruit from the Word. This means that you are open to what God has for your life. You are preparing for what God has next for you and ready to follow in whatever direction he has for you. This is what it means to be a follower or disciple for Christ. This is where we as Christian strive to be with our relationship with Christ.