What happened to your seed?

Luke 8:4-15 And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up,it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7And some fell among thorns and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold." As he said these things, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (V4-8)

The seed is the Word of God.

The seeds:

1. Along the path.
   What happened to it?
   Trampled underfoot, Birds of the air devoured it
   The meaning behind it?
   People hear the Word but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
2. On the rock
   What happened to it?
   It grew up and withered away because it has no moisture
   The meaning behind it?
   People hear the Word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.
3. Among the thorns.
   What happened to it?
   It grew up with it and choked it.
   The meaning behind it?
   People hear the Word, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.
4. Good soil
   What happened to it?
   Grew and yielded a hundredfold
   The meaning behind it?
   People hear the Word, they hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

What happened to your “seed” after hearing the Word of God?

"No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”
Matt. 8:16-18

Applying God’s word helps us grow. This is a principle of growth in physical, mental and spiritual life. For example, a muscle when exercised will grow stronger, but an unused muscle will grow weak and flabby. If you are not growing stronger, you are growing weaker; it is impossible for you to stand sill. How are you using what God has taught you?

Source: Life Application Study Bible (NLT)