How Do You Respond?

Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” (Matthew 13:1-9 NLT)

Jesus made a pulpit out of a ship. The congregation stood on the shore. His approach was masterful. Often, we get stuck in conventional thinking. May God help us think with His heart.
As Jesus taught them, He identified for us the various ways people respond to the gospel. Some could care less. Others receive the Word quickly but don't have good soil to deepen their roots. Some get caught up in the daily cares of living. Then there are those who receive the Word and get their roots in good fertile soil. These are the ones that become fruitful in God's garden.
Which one are You?