Seed In The Good Ground

"But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."  Luke 8:15.  The design of preaching the word of God is to bring forth fruit.  The word which is preached must be received by a good and honest heart.  Not all hearts receive the word of God.  Not all hearts that receive the word of God bring forth fruit.  The heart that will bring forth fruit is the heart that hears the word of God and keeps it.  One can hear the word and never keep the word.  The fruitful heart is the obedient heart.  This heart humbly hears and receives.  The good soil  will receive the seed and bring forth a crop.  The obedient heart will receive the will of God and bring forth fruit.  The sower of seed seeks the good soil and the sower of the word of God seeks the good heart.  The ground is prepared to receive the seed and the heart must be prepared to receive the word.  The word will abide in the heart and will change and nourish the heart.  The one who hears and keeps the word lives a productive life in the service of God.  The word of God is sown in many hearts, but only the good and honest heart will benefit from the word.  What we do with our life is determined by how we respond to the word of God.