四種土壤
路加福音八章9至15節
9門徒問耶穌說：“這比喻是甚麼意思呢？”
10他說：“ 神國的奧秘只叫你們知道；至於別人，就用比喻，叫他們看也看不見，聽也聽不明。
11這比喻乃是這樣：種子就是 神的道。
12那些在路旁的，就是人聽了道，隨後魔鬼來，從他們心裡把道奪去，恐怕他們信了得救；
13那些在磐石上的，就是人聽道，歡喜領受，但心中沒有根，不過暫時相信，及至遇見試煉就退後了；
14那落在荊棘裡的，就是人聽了道，走開以後，被今生的思慮、錢財、宴樂擠住了，便結不出成熟的子粒來；
15那落在好土裡的，就是人聽了道，持守在誠實善良的心裡，並且忍耐著結實。
信息分享
當撒種人在泥土上撒種，種子或許會撒到路上或是田邊，那些地方卻是硬土，種子不能生長。有些人的心靈就像這些硬土；罪使他們心硬，真理無法進到他們心內。
撒但更會設法阻止神的道進入人的心中。仿如飛鳥看見種子掉到地上，便立即飛下啄食一樣，撒但也會馬上把神的道奪走，不讓它有任何生長的機會。
此外，種子也會落在石旁的淺土裡，最初還會萌芽和生長。可是，一陣熱風吹過，便馬上枯萎。
主耶穌說，這代表一些領受了種子的人，最初長得不錯，可是，當試驗臨到，他們便抵擋不住而放棄信仰。在現實中，我們經常看到這種情況。最初的成長令人振奮，但一遇考驗便立即跌倒。
另有些人是最初成長得不錯，直至「被今生的思慮、錢財、宴樂擠住了」，以致屬靈生命停滯不前，逐漸枯萎。這又是另一種悲劇。
我們不應讓任何阻礙神的道的東西填滿心靈，應該把這些東西拿走。
落在好土裡的，就是歡喜領受神的道的人，他們預備好自己的心靈，讓神的道可以茁壯茂盛地成長。種子結實之後，便可產出更多種子，息息不斷地生長。好土壤是每個農夫想要的，這樣的心也是我們的主所尋找的。
你的心是哪種土壤呢？是硬土？是淺土？是被許多東西填滿的泥土？或是好土呢？
但願我們今天就說：
「主啊，我願意一直敞開自己的心，接受你的道。」這是我們的主所喜悅的。
THOSE FOUR SOILS
Luke 8:9-15
9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”
10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. The Parable of the Sower Explained.
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.
14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
Message
A pathway led through the field or perhaps went along the edge. That soil, hard and unbroken, never really received the seed. Some hearts are like that. They have become hardened by sin and the truth has no chance of entering.
Then Satan makes sure about it. Like the birds who quickly spotted the seed on the path and flew down to snatch it away, Satan does exactly the same. He won't allow the Word to remain long enough to germinate and grow.
In another place there was a shallow band of soil over rock. Seed fell there too and it looked like it would grow well. Then came a dry spell and a hot wind. The little plants which looked so promising shrivelled and died.
Our Lord said this represented those who begin well but wither away at the first sign of testing. You have seen that happen haven't you? The promise is thrilling but the first test means failure spiritually.
Then there are those whose spiritual life grows well until as Christ said: 'Life's worries, riches and pleasures' grow too and the good plants are choked completely. A tragedy.
Anything that fills the heart to the exclusion of the Word of God is wrong and should be put away.
The good soil is the joy of everyone's heart. It is soil which gave full liberty to the growth of the Word. The seed here eventually reproduces itself so the process goes on. This is what the farmer wanted. This is what our Lord is looking for. By the way, how is the soil of your heart? Where does it fit into the pattern our Lord gave? Is it a pathway? Rocky soil? Pre-occupied soil? Or fruitful soil?
Why not say today 'Lord I want my heart to be constantly open to your Word'? That is what the Lord wants most of all.