The four reactions relating to the four soils…

For many of us we have heard the parable of the four soils that are listed in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.

The good soil (25%)
The others – the “bad” (75%)

I once heard a pastor say from his opinion that he believes (though I doubt he hopes this is the truth) that this percentage represents how so many “Christians” aren’t really true Jesus loving, Jesus following Christians and that they are basically “name-only”. If he is right – this is very, very sad.

While the original meaning and lessons of Yeshua’s four soil as well as my pastor’s idea above are great things to learn and/or ponder – today’s message here is along different lines.

I will though use the concept of the 1-in-4 or how 1 is “good/right” and 3 are “bad/not-right”.

Take the concept of when you KNOW you are guilty.

Let’s say you lied to a close friend when you did not need to – and you knew when you were in the act of committing this lie (sin) that it was wrong – it felt wrong – YET you did it ANYWAY.

So what do you do? What do you normally do in situations like this?

Do you cover it up and try to lie again or maybe try to do something else that will, you think, lessen the impact or brush it under the rug where he/she won’t notice?

Or maybe you pass the blame on someone else, thinking that this will absolve you of the crime/sin and will make everything ok?

Even better maybe you just don’t care at all. You just think there is no harm in what you did and so you defend yourself by saying to yourself – “it’s not that big of a deal” or to the point that you are so self-invested that there is no wrong being committed in the first place.

The fact is there is only one “good” soil – one “good” way forward – and only one, I believe, true answer and response – come clean and take responsibility.

Did you notice that is about right – 3 wrong responses – only 1 right one?

That is the correct percentage. So many ways to choose the wrong response and a very small, albeit one and only, way to respond correctly.

That is my problem and I suspect yours as well. We can so easily try to blame others (i.e. pass the buck), try to cover it up, or just pridefully think there is nothing wrong in the first place or otherwise not caring.

I lie. I sin in all sorts of ways. And how many times have I chosen the not-so-correct way to handle things.

It hurts to not fess up – and not only me but others. We need to surrender that situation and sin to G-d and ask Him to help us do the right thing and own up to our mistakes, failures, and sins.

So today, I challenge the reader – you – to ask the L-rd to reveal any (and perhaps every) sin, including lies, etc that need reconciliation of which asking for forgiveness is the next step (of course with sensitivity if it will hurt someone else to share – be careful).

And also thank the L-rd that we have His Holy Spirit for wisdom, guidance, and to help us feel guilt/remorse when we do wrong – so that we can, hopefully, choose the good path forward.

James 5:16:

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”