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who hears, receives it enthusiastically, but has no root, and falls away when the Gospel gets hard and loses it's charming appeal. Pretty much you can only identify them by their falling away. Don't be surprised. He tells you there are people who will fall away, be gone, and lose interest.
Hebrews 10:39 contrasts it this way, "But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." In 1Tim 4:1 Paul tells Timothy, "in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."

Just make sure you aren't one of them. Be the person who does not shrink back and is destroyed, but is of those who believe and are saved. Make sure the Word goes down deep in you that the root goes all the way to your toes. Be like the Dandelion with its deep tap root. The world wants to get rid of it, but it is hard to get rid of even when you try to carefully pull up the whole root.

3. The thorny soil (vs. 22) Jesus says is, "the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth (that) choke it, making it unfruitful." This is different from the rocky places. Apparently there is life this time, though it is hard to tell. There is little to no fruit. The fruit of the Spirit are hardly evident - "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23). You wonder about him. He just doesn't really look like a Christian. Well that is not for us to decide that is God's realm. We don't go there. Our job is to work on the good soil.

4. The Good Soil is someone who hears, understands, and produces fruit. That fruit yields a 100%, 60%, or even just a 30% increase. Notice that Jesus is telling us that there will be different kinds of people in the church. You will see that some people will be wonderful Christians, while others will be barely more than C&E Christians (Christmas and Easter). This parable will give you wisdom.
Also remember who it is who causes the plant to produce the fruit. And remember that good soil is soil that has been prepared by the Spirit of God through situations and contact with Christians.
Make sure that you are good soil, and ask God to make you fruitful.
Scatter the seed.

Learn more about this author, Tom Greenslade.
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