Strive to be the good soil...

 Matthew 13:16 

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Which soil will you classify yourself as, when the word of God falls on your ears, your spirit, your heart? Does the word get snatched away by evil due to lack of understanding? Or does it fall on rocky ground, where it takes no root and only last for a short while due to persecution? Or does if fall amongst thorns where the worries of life choke it away? Or does it fall on good soil, where it produces crops many folds? It is God's desire that the word that we receive, through the bible and through the teachers of the word, that it will take root, that we will hear it, connect with it and let it grow us. The evidence will be the fruits that are visible, through the spirit, which Galatians 5:22 tells us it is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are the characteristics that shows the spirit that lives within us.

Of course we are work-in-progress, thus we need to also be patient with ourselves with our weaknesses. However, we take those weaknesses to God who will give us strength. Therefore, may we strive to be good soil and let the word of God take root in us.