A Bountiful Harvest: The Expectation of Jesus’ Followers

Last updated on: May 3, 2023 at 11:34 pm by Paul Tanner

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A Bountiful Harvest: The Expectation of Jesus’ Followers 2023-05-03T23:34:31-04:00 Paul Tanner

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Basket of Vegetables

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The last soil in the parable of the sower is the good soil. Jesus describes this soil as one that produces more than is expected. Jesus’s followers should expect their life and heart to reflect this bountiful harvest of good.

Reaping and Sowing

I have been going through the four different soils of the heart found in Matthew 13. If you have not read the first three soils, you can look back at my earlier posts. The last soil is good soil, where the seed lands and can grow and produce abundantly. Jesus expected His followers to hear His words and put them into action. In the Gospels, Jesus is often exasperated by His closest disciple’s lack of understanding and inability to put His teaching into action. And when Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit became our helper. The Spirit is the power by which our weak, broken human selves can do the very things Jesus also did.

So, to reap a harvest of good things, you must carefully sow. Once you have prepared your heart’s soil, choose what seeds you plant. Paul tells us a physical and spiritual reality in Galatians 6:7-8: You reap what you sow. If you fill your heart with seeds of anger, despair, cynicism, and hate, why would you be surprised when you see those more frequently in your thoughts and words? Suppose you immerse yourself in relationships, books, movies, podcasts, or other media outlets that are consistently negative while being filled with rage. Why are you surprised when that same fruit is produced in you? We reap the fruits of what we sow in our hearts.

Salt and Light

But Jesus has called us to something greater. He has proclaimed that you are a city on a hill and the salt of the earth. In other words, you are the light in the darkness that lost people can use to find their way to safety. You are the seasoning and preservative in this bland and dying world. We cannot waste our time being consumed by the cares of this world. Paul tells us how to be the light by planting these seeds in our hearts: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

If you want to be salt and light, start by planting God’s word firmly in your heart. And then fill your thoughts with everything that Paul mentions. Plant truth, nobility, purity, loveliness, and so on in your heart, and reap the bountiful harvest of excellent and praiseworthy things. You may need to turn off the television, radio, or podcast to reorient your heart to the things of God. You may need to find friends, family, and a community that helps you push deeper into the good things of God. Surround yourself with voices (people, books, podcasts, and music) that find creative ways to encourage you to love God and people more every day.

Jesus’ Followers

Whenever I think about changing my media consumption and planting my heart full of good seeds, I am often overwhelmed by all the changes I need to make. As a committed follower of Jesus, I am reminded of His gentleness and graciousness. My challenge to myself and those reading is to take the first step. Decide in your heart what God is calling you to do, then step towards that. Even if it is a tiny step, get the ball rolling, and start the journey.

I am often reminded of what Max Lucado points out: God loves you just as you are. But He loves you too much to let you stay that way. Commit to today to study Jesus’ words. Then commit to how you can live them out in your life. And then watch, and God, through the Holy Spirit, will produce fruit from your heart beyond your wildest imagination.