“But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience” (vs15).
We must wait on the God who saved us to bring more fruit in our lives, serving Him from what we have, hearing and receiving His word.
First, we can only provide for the Lord from our substance, giving from what we have. We read, “And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance” (Luke 8:3). He blesses us, we see it, and then we bless Him back tangibly.
Giving is the proof of love, proving the sincerity of the heart, that it is real and not pretend. He says, “For if there first be a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have” (2 Cor 8:12).
If you have been blessed with life eternal, then give from what you have, starting with yourself, and give tangibly to His cause.
Secondly, hear the Son. He has the words of life eternal, and all who believe on Him (for faith comes by hearing) shall be saved. He says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (vs8). This Teacher has truth, He backed it with His blood, and He is come from heaven to teach us eternal realities, delivering us from death and God's wrath. He says, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:23-24). You and I must hear this Prophet, or we must pay the price.
Thirdly, if we'll bring fruit to perfection and truly be saved, we will need patience. Our Lord says, “But the ones that fell on good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). This good and noble heart believes God and receives GRACE to cover every sin. The issue with faith (for everyone believes in something) is the object (James 2:19). The object of our faith is the sin-conquering, grace giving God, that though we have failed, though we are attacked, and though we are weak and helpless, He will be with us. Micah 7 says, “Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me” (vs8). We believe in forgiveness, so we bring forth love. We believe His power, so we overcome sin. We believe His faithfulness, so when all appears lost, we hope in God.
Patience is REQUIRED because we can't do anything but wait on God, and He promises to bless all who wait on Him. He says, “Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him” (Isaiah 30:18). He will not forsake the helpless soul that believes on Him for salvation and waits for Him to do it.
Abraham and Sarah WAITED 25 years for Isaac. Isaac waited 20 years to have Jacob and Esau. And, we must wait to go to heaven, wait to grow, wait for God to solve our problems, and wait on Him for peace. Ephesians 5 says, “wives submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord”, and, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her”, but He doesn't tell the husband to make the wife submit, except by love, and He doesn't tell the wife to make her husband love her, except by submission. By this hope in God, we are fruitful, and thereby evidence salvation. We don't flee to another hope, which is no hope at all. Like Peter, we say, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
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