Bloom Where You are Planted

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 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. But the ones on the rock are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no roots, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 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. But the ones who fell on the good ground are the ones who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.” – Luke 8:11-15

What a picture is painted for us here- four extremely different people groups are laid out for us. Those who hear yet never get the chance to grow, those who take no root, those who are choked out by pleasure, and lastly those who grow, keep, and eventually bear fruit. They all need the same thing- they need the seed. They need Jesus. Yet only one receives the seed with the correct heart that enables it to grow.

Following the Lord isn’t a onetime thing. We are told to walk with the Lord daily; one step at a time. Those on the good soil heard the word, accepted it, and then continued to grow it. That seed is laid out however the process cannot end there. It must be watered and cared for in order to take root and bloom right where it has been planted. Ephesians 3:17-18 tells us that when we are rooted in love and it is there that we may be able to comprehend the width, length, depth, and height of the Father’s love for us. In this world, there will be a constant wind trying to blow the seed in your heart off of the good soil and into the thorns. But it’s the man who keeps the seed, stays rooted, and endures it all with patience who will grow into exactly what God had intended Him to be. In every season, He is still God. In the rain and in the drought- He is still sovereign and He is still looking to grow us.

For me, I think it’s so easy to give the Lord certain parts of the heart to water and care for but then the rest of it I try and keep in the drought and thorns. I have to be willing to surrender ALL to him, allowing him to grow me into whatever He sees fit. I must flourish where He has planted me and stay rooted in His abounding love.