Are you still good soil?

 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  Whoever has ears, let them hear. Matthew 13:3-9

We all know this parable of the sower and where the different seeds land. Let's take this to the next step. Your seed landed on good soil, it grew and now it is producing fruit. You are done now right? There's nothing more for you to do. Wrong. That good soil needs to be maintained. It doesn't stay good soil.

If you aren't careful the world will come through and turn that good soil into a path. Whether the garden is a field or small lot in a backyard, the path and the seed beds are clearly marked. You don't want your seed beds walked upon, they'll turn into paths. We have protect your seed beds. The things of this world will come and trample our seed beds and not think twice. So how do we protect our seed beds? What do watch on T.V.? I'm not saying you have to lock your T.V. on some Christian Channel, however, there are certain things as good soil, you shouldn't be watching. That T.V. show about the transgender teenager, um no. The T.V. show about cheating on your spouse, not so much. I'll admit not everything I watch on T.V. is Christian, but it isn't letting the world trample on my  seed beds. What's on your radio? I'm not saying keep it on KLove 24/7, but think about the messages that music is sending. How about your news feed on Facebook and Twitter? Does it need some cleaning.  My point here, is that we are going to exposed to things of the world. You can't live in it and be the light we were called to be without some exposure to it, however what gets in more the things of God, or the things of the world.

Do you clear the weeds away? Are thorns choking out your plant. Are you weeding your garden?  When life gets rough how do you respond? Do you throw a pity party or do you get on your knees? When life seems to pile on the problems do you focus on the problems or do you focus on God? Do you have those friend that point you the bad in life and drag you down, or do you have those friends that encourage and pray with you? Life is hard but when you are clearing your weeds and thorns and focusing on God, you maintain that good soil.

Are you keeping your moist and watered? Dry plants are the ones that get scorched in the heat. The best way to water your plant is spending time in the word. 

It comes down to this if you want to have good soil so your plant can keep producing good fruit you have to do things. You have to keep your influences in check. You don't have to keep yourself in closet away from the world, you just have to be mindful of how the world, your family and your friends are influencing you.