Parable includes seed, soil and circumstance

Jesus often spoke in parables, or short stories with many layers of meanings. Perhaps one of the most famous parables is the story of the sower who goes out and indiscriminately sows seed. Some seeds fall on a path, on rocky soil, others among thorns, and then, the last, on good soil. In an age in which farmers can plant acres upon acres in GPS-equipped, air-conditioned tractors, random dropping of seed seems rather odd.

The story also seemed odd to the 12 apostles around him. Fortunately, Jesus explained this parable. He said the seed represents the word of God and the soil different types of people and the circumstances surrounding them. Both the condition of the soil and the circumstances that affect them affect how the seed is received and grows. The seed in all but one soil, the good soil, is taken away, easily uprooted or choked out.

The seed is the same, but the good soil is different in three ways.

First, the good soil hears the word. In other words, these are the people who receive the word. When a quarterback throws a pass to his receiver, the ball is not considered "received" until the receiver tucks the ball into his body to finish running out the play. When the ball is tucked in close, that is how you know the ball has been received.

Jesus says those represented by the good soil receive the word. They take what God has said in the Bible and bring it into their lives. Life then is built on something outside of ourselves.

Second, the good soil accepted the word. In the same way a transplant patient has to accept the new organ, so to the good soil must receive and accept the seed. The word goes deep within them, and, instead of a foreign object, it belongs there.

Bringing to the third, the good soil bears fruit. The seed shows up. It produces.

In area schools, young men and women are training for sports. All the sweat and energy they are expelling in practice is done with the aim of winning their game. They want to produce.

That is what the Bible is to do in our lives. It's more than a book to read; it is the living word that produces beautiful fruit in our lives and in the lives of those we love.