Perseverance Required

"This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop."

Luke 8:11, 15

The seed in this parable falls on four types of soil:
1. Path – the evil one plucks it away from their hearts.
2. Rock – the seed is planted, but there is no root. They believe for a while but in the time of testing they fall away.
3. Thorns – the seed grows, but is choked out by life. There is no maturity.
4. Good Soil – the seed is planted, grows and by perseverance produces a crop.

These three things are all needed to reach maturity: Having the Word of God; retaining it (keeping it as the ‘active ingredient’ in your life); and perseverance. Life does not become easy when you hear the Word. It will gain more clarity as you understand your purpose in life, but life does not become easier. Life may become more challenging as you go against the flow of culture and your own natural tendencies to live out the life of Christ. There is need for perseverance! When you have these three elements present, there is a crop! There is maturity. How do you know when a seed matures? When it has grown to the point of harvest. At harvest it has reproduced itself and more seeds are the result.

The Path never hears the Word. It’s been taken away. The Rock hears it, but doesn’t retain it. Without roots, the seed as no chance. In the Thorns the seed has taken root and grow quite a bit, but it never comes to maturity because the Thorns choke it out and growth cannot happen. The seed that falls on Good Soil has head the Word, retained it and after some time and perseverance becomes mature. This maturity is not immediate, but there is growth.

PERSEVERANCE REQUIRED! I think I want things to happen too quickly. I like overnight results! I like instant potatoes, instant coffee (not really) and the microwave. I want to see the results immediately!

The Kingdom of Heaven doesn’t work like that. God is eternal… He is in no hurry. What’s taking ‘forever’ in my mind is a blink of an eye to Him. It seems to me that God doesn’t measure success in terms of expediency but in quality. He takes the time to grow me up slowly, but strongly. There is no ‘instant character!’ We do not produce a crop having been planted yesterday. But through perseverance and an allegiance to His purposes in my life, we do mature, becoming more like Jesus.

Father, thank You for Your plan and Your patience. Thank You for wanting me and not what I can do for You. Help me God to return the same to You. I want You, not what You can do for me. Thank You for loving me in Christ.