A fire can only be lit when the people are willing for God to light it. A fire is already smouldering in the hearts of some, but needs the oxygen of the breath of God for it to spring to life. This breath is experienced by proximity. As Hebrews 10:22-23 says, “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
The reasons why a person would not draw near to the Lord are the same as the three types of bad ground: Wayside/path, stony ground, thorns. The path is a place of hardened ground, God’s word is unable to penetrate and the devil attacks to remove it before it can grow. The stony ground is a place of unhealthy soil where a plant cannot take root – This lack of soil makes the plant exposed to the elements – the sun, the wind, and the rain which should bring nutrition and life instead are sources of devastation. Finally, we have the thorns which are the cares of the world and the fixations on the natural versus the spiritual. These thorns choke the word and keep it from being able to take over the soil. Throwing seed in a fully weeded flower bed cannot grow, except the gardener first tills the soil and removes the weeds. Those who draw near are that good soil, soft, healthy, and ready to receive what God has to share.
The beautiful parable of the sower reflects a surprising truth, every type of ground can become good soil through willingness and effort. If you are satisfied with the ground you have, you will always be packed, stony, or thorny. Contrastingly, if you draw near to God, He will work with you to prepare the soil of your life: tilling the ground, clearing the rocks, and removing the thorns. (Ez 36:26-29)
Yielding Prayer
Father in Heaven, I invite you to light a fire in my heart today. Breathe your breath of life in me so that I may be made alive again for your purposes. Till up the soil of my heart and make the ground ready to receive your truth.