We made it to the end of the year! And what a year it’s been. I hope 2023 has been good to you. As we approach the last weeks of the year, it got me thinking about growth and the kind of Christian I want to be, going into 2024. I think it’s something we should always be asking ourselves! The bible tells us that we should work out our salvation with fear and trembling. To me, that means I need to constantly check myself and my faith because faith without works is dead. We have to become doers of the Word, not just hearers! When we first hear the good news of Jesus, we all experience something that seems to take root in us, a hope that we never knew before. Initially, we feel this change that takes place, and we desire to be the person that we were created to be. But what happens after the Word is planted within us? Do we just go back to life as we know it? Do we let the world continue to consume us?

The bible says that if we love God, we must obey his commandments. Obedience is very important in our relationship with God. Our relationship with God is much more than just turning up to church on a Sunday. We can’t treat God casually and think that our relationship with Him will grow with minimal effort on our part. The closer we draw to Him is, the closer He will draw to us. Honestly, it’s the same with any relationship we have. What we put in is what we get back. If we don’t tend to the people in our lives, our relatonships with them would never grow deep. So why do we struggle to tend to our relationship with God like we do with our friends or our partners? The parable of the sower has been on my mind of recent. I think I have firsthand seen different examples of this parable this year, and it really resonated with me. It can be so easy for the enemy to come in and snatch away God’s Word, for many are called, but few are chosen. The parable talks about four different kinds of people who hear the Word. This post, I hope, is to help you figure out what person you are! And if you are really looking to see growth in 2024, I pray that this will help you to tend to your relationship and grow closer to God!

MATTHEW 13:3-4 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.” The first person who hears the Word is like a footpath. The Word can not take root because there is no soil. This means that this person lacks understanding when they hear the message of the Kingdom of God. Because of this, the evil one comes and snatches away the Word from that person.

MATTHEW 13:5-6 “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.” The second person who hears the Word is like shallow soil. This person immediately recieves the Word with joy and for a short time will seem like there is potential for growth in their walk with God, but because they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for being believers.

MATTHEW 13:7 “OTHER SEEDS FELL AMONG THORNS THAT GREW UP AND CHOKED OUT THE TENDER PLANTS.” The third person who hears the Word is like a bed of thorns. This person hears the Word, but very quickly, the message is crowed out by the worries of this life and lure of wealth, the wanting of everything under the sun. Because of this, the Word is unfruitful.

MATTHEW 13:8 “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!” The fourth person who hears the Word is like good soil. This person hears the Word and understands it. The Word becomes deep rooted within them, and they bear the fruit that produces a harvest that is beyond their wildest dreams. 

Now we have gone through the different kinds of people who receive the message of the Kingdom, which one are you? 

I can not stress how important it is to tend to your “Garden”, make sure you are good soil. Make sure there is nothing that is gonna uproot what has been planted. Being a believer makes you fruitful. There is an expectation for growth to see a harvest! We can not be believers who are unfruitful. The message of Jesus is meant to change us from the inside out. The Word of God renews our minds. It causes us to want to live a Holy and righteous life, it changes our hearts and our desires. When we are truly changed, we work for God’s kingdom, not because we have to; because our works don’t save us, but because it is a result of our faith, our faith produces good works. 

This world is a trap. It promises us so much but really has nothing to offer us. The bible promises us that if we seek the kingdom first, everything else will be added to us. More than our minds could ever comprehend. Knowing that God doesn’t lie, we can trust that His Word is true, He will do what He says!

Put God first in 2024. I promise you that you won’t regret it. Get rid of whoever, or whatever, is holding you back from drawing closer to Him. Think about the things that have happened in your life since first hearing the Word. The fire that was set a blaze when you first discovered who God was and what that truly meant to you. Now, see all the birds that have been devouring your seeds. Whether it’s dressed up as a new job opportunity, or a new relationship, something that on the surface can seem like a God send, is usually a distraction from the enemy to take up more time, the time you planned to use to initially spend time with God in your secret place or to attend that bible study you promised yourself. I promise you, God wouldn’t bring something into your life that takes you away from Him. MATTHEW 6:24 “NO ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS. EITHER YOU WILL HATE ONE AND LOVE THE OTHER, OR YOU WILL BE DEVOTED TO THE ONE AND DESPISE THE OTHER. YOU CANNOT SERVE BOTH GOD AND MONEY.” This world is always pushing us to want more, to see the having of things as what makes us worthy. But the more we have is, the more we desire. It’s this endless cycle and pursuit of happiness that causes us to turn away from our creator. But remember, all these things we chase are temporary, but what God offers us is eternal! 

As we prepare for the obligatory New years resolution, I encourage you to add God to your list. God has a plan for all of us. Some of us are walking in His plan already, and the fruit is plentiful. God bless you if you are good soil! May your crops continue to multiply. If you recognise that your soil needs some help, then seek out the farmer, seek out God, and ask for His help! Spend time with Him in His Word, He will water you. Ask your community of believers for help and advice. Make a conscious effort to remove a distraction and replace it with God. Create the habits that draw you close, and He will draw close to you!

Thank you for reading and journeying with me this year. I pray that this blog has blessed you as much as writing it has blessed me. May the good Lord continue to bless you, and may you always remain hungry for Him! As we prepare for the festivities of Christmas, let’s never forget the reason for the season, JESUS! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you in 2024.