August 19, 2010
Recently I have been sharing that God is watching His children grow and mature, like a Master Gardener. Isaiah 61:3 calls God’s people “a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor” and in Isaiah 60:21 God says we are “the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands.” I described our Heavenly Father as a “garden walker,” as one who lovingly examines young hearts and lives to see what is sprouting and how well things are growing.
I suggested that we as adults are responsible for placing good seed from God’s Word in children’s hearts, watching for signs of new spiritual life and protecting those young spiritual shoots.
I also focused on the uniqueness of children, and how their Creator Master Gardener is able to place the right plant in the right place at the right time in His garden. I suggested that God knows our children better than we do, and He knows exactly what they need to grow and mature in their own way and at their own rate.
Today, let’s focus on soil, which is the condition of the child’s heart. In Matthew 13, Jesus told a familiar parable of various soils and how the good seed of the Gospel fared in each one. If you recall, the first soil was hard, impenetrable and unable to bring forth a sprout, much less a crop. A child with a strong will and rebellious spirit may be seen as one with a hard heart. This is a tough situation for parent and teacher alike, but I trust that our Master Gardener knows how to break up that hard heart, using love and patience through us who cherish that tough little garden spot and refuse to leave it in that condition. For this kind of child, seek the Lord early and often for His insight into what will make a spiritual breakthrough.
Another soil looked good on the surface, but was hardpan underneath, preventing spiritual roots from going deep. Jesus suggested that this person might be initially very enthusiastic, but unable to stand up to the heat of persecution. Some children also demonstrate early enthusiasm, but feelings rule their hearts, and they are prone to quitting when their walk with Jesus or even studying for a test gets hard. Again, seek the Creator who knows how to get beyond the surface and reach the deepest parts of your child’s heart. Guide your children through the tough times, and do not let them give up easily.
A third kind of soil is one that I am seeing more frequently: early growth hindered by cares, worries and fears. Some weeds like parasitic dodder can actually invade the tissues of a vegetable or flower, choking off its life from the inside out. Beware putting your child in the position of taking on dodder-like adult fears and worries that are not appropriate for their age or maturity. Nip those choking anxieties “in the bud.”
Our broadcast today was sponsored by friends of Heartland who urge you to sign your children up now for the 2010-2011 class at Heartland Christian Academy in Bemidji. Call us at 218-751-1751.