Sinclair B. Ferguson

That could be hardened soil that's been broken up.

It could mean rocky soil where the substratum has been cracked open.

It could mean weed-infested soil where serious weeding has been done and weed killer has been applied.

Then we can look forward to a great harvest.

And you can see the spiritual parallel here.

And this is the wonder of the gospel.

The gospel seed may not look very much when we first see it, but when it is planted in good soil, its wonderful effects begin to appear, and it yields an abundant crop at the harvest.

Think of what Jesus said.

When instead of the cares of this world or a desire for material well-being or the pursuit of ambition, when instead of those things we yield our lives to him, yes, faults and all, we will become fruitful.

because Jesus Christ is no man's debtor, no teenager's debtor, nobody's debtor.

A personal example comes to mind.

When I was on the verge of becoming a Christian, I thought that I might lose some friends in the process.

But as I look back now, I'm amazed at the hundredfold harvest of new Christian friends.

And not just the size of the harvest, but the quality of it.

Amazing friends who are a privilege and joy to know who are brothers and sisters to me, believers to whom I owe so much.

And these friendships have been for me part of the thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and yes, a hundredfold yield of the good seed of God's Word.

Yes, there is ploughing, and yes, there is also weeding to be done as we receive the Word of God and as we take heed how we hear.

But remember the promise of Isaiah 55 verses 10 to 11.

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth.

It shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.