The Seed is Christ!

Luke 8:13 Those on the rock are the ones who, when they hear, receive the Word with joy. And these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

[A morning devotional by Charles spurgeon]

This is a good lesson to be learned. For a long time I would walk into church and shortly forget what the Lord was speaking to me about. Charles Spurgeon talks about how important it is to receive Jesus into your soul for without Him earnestly that all feelings and impressions cast our way, would soon fade away like seeds planted on rocky ground. See though my intentions were good, going to church, it was my commitment to Jesus, saying You are Lord, You are Master of my life, then the Word became real. Then the Seed of Christ began to grow inside me. Then the Seed began to show on the outside, this is the fruit from the seed.

Interesting is how through this sinful world satan, (not capitalized on purpose), will do everything in his power to weaken me, the Seed for Christ remains strong and it's fruitful purpose sprouts outward.

On Christ the rock I stand, all others is sinking sand!

[My soul, examine thyself this morning by the light of this text. Thou hast received the word with joy; thy feelings have been stirred and a lively impression has been made; but, remember, that to receive the word in the ear is one thing, and to receive Jesus into thy very soul is quite another; superficial feeling is often joined to inward hardness of heart, and a lively impression of the word is not always a lasting one.]

I believe churches today are trying various approaches to bring in people so they can find and experience God there. If the heart of the church is Jesus, you don't need an approach, you just have to be sincere in what you are portraying to those entering the house of God. I also believe the heart of the individual is already prepared by God before entering the doors of the church. What the individual needs is Jesus! Once that has happened the church then becomes a nourishment of His seed. Read on as Charles Spurgeon writes about this.

[In the parable, the seed in one case fell upon ground having a rocky bottom, covered over with a thin layer of earth; when the seed began to take root, its downward growth was hindered by the hard stone and therefore it spent its strength in pushing its green shoot aloft as high as it could, but having no inward moisture derived from root nourishment, it withered away. Is this my case? Have I been making a fair show in the flesh without having a corresponding inner life? Good growth takes place upwards and downwards at the same time. Am I rooted in sincere fidelity and love to Jesus? If my heart remains unsoftened and unfertilized by grace, the good seed may germinate for a season, but it must ultimately wither, for it cannot flourish on a rocky, unbroken, unsanctified heart. Let me dread a godliness as rapid in growth and as wanting in endurance as Jonah’s gourd; let me count the cost of being a follower of Jesus, above all let me feel the energy of his Holy Spirit, and then I shall possess an abiding and enduring seed in my soul. If my mind remains as obdurate as it was by nature, the sun of trial will scorch, and my hard heart will help to cast the heat the more terribly upon the ill-covered seed, and my religion will soon die, and my despair will be terrible; therefore, O heavenly Sower, plough me first, and then cast the truth into me, and let me yield thee a bounteous harvest.]

How important it is for us that understand and yield Christ's bounty, to share with those that still through their choice have not come to let the Father ploughing turn and prepare their hearts to receive Christ's heavenly seed of love.

Planting Seeds

I am His little gardener,
whom God chose me to be.
He said, “Little gardener of Mine
go plant these love seeds for Me”

I said, “Lord where do I plant,
these seeds of Your love?”
God said, “Just listen to your heart,
as I speak to you from above.

Do not be surprised
if rejected now and then,
these seeds are the beginning
that will spiritually nourish them to the end.

So I reached deep into my heart,
and grabbed one of His special love seeds.
From my mouth they were planted as I said,
“This is from God’s love, and also they are from me!”

E. P. Shagott
12/28/09


From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott