Soil for Life (Part 1 of 2)

By Amanda T. (read her blog here)

Into what kind of soil would one plant a fruit tree? Hard clay, a mixture of clay and soil, or rich, fertilized soil? If we want our tree to grow, thrive, and bear fruit, we would wisely choose the rich soil.

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Into what kind of soil are we planting our life in? Hard, worldly clay, a mix of worldly clay and Bible soil, or the rich soil of God’s pure, untainted Word? If we want our life to be healthy, meaningful, and ultimately fruit-bearing, we would wisely choose the best soil: God’s Word.

Are we choosing wisely?

Let us do a quick test. Think through the following questions carefully and answer them honestly.

   ~Do I spend more time in God’s Word than I do in secular books, movies, or internet?

   ~Do I quote Scripture more often than movies?

   ~Are the people I look up to Heroes of the Faith or movie actors/actresses?

   ~Are my thoughts about love and romance Biblical or Hollywood?

  ~Do I rate sin according to God’s standard, or the world’s standard?

   ~Do I condone movies and books that go contrary to God’s Word?

   ~Do I desire to be like Christ, or do I desire to be like my favorite movie/book character?

There are many other questions one could ask, but the bottom line is: our thoughts and beliefs will be directed by what we spend most of our time with. If we allow the world to lead us (plant our roots in clay), our spiritual life will soon shrivel up and die.  If we spend a little time reading God’s Word (mixing a little of the good soil with our clay) our spiritual life will do okay, but we will still struggle to thrive when the freeze (trials/temptations) come. But, if our roots are lavishing in the rich soil of God’s Word, then our spiritual life will grow sturdy and be able to endure.

Where are your roots planted?

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Colossians 2:6-8

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:1-2

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About Amanda:

Amanda is a homeschool graduate living with her parents and eleven siblings in Louisiana. Their family sings together, sharing God’s love through music in churches and nursing homes. Until God shows her a different path, she enjoys teaching piano and music theory, hymn-arranging, photography, writing, spending time with her siblings, and home economics. In the past few years, Proverbs 3:5-7 has been a passage that God has used in her life, showing her how vital it is to trust Him in any issue. You may visit her blog: withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com