What is the cry of your heart? Is it for the Word or for the world?  The parable in Mark 4: 1-20 is a vivid illustration of the sower and the seed. God desires that we understand His Word and what better way to explain it then in parables. It shows how we can get caught up in the Word or the world. It is easy to say we will serve the Lord with gladness for all our days, but when hard times come, will you still serve God?  We are currently preaching on the fruit of the Spirit in our Bible Study and it amazes me of how when you preach the Word you get tested on it. I was at work and everything was running smoothly. Suddenly, I realized that a list of names and phone numbers that I was working on had shifted so that the majority of the numbers did not match the corresponding names. What a test of patience and self control. I thank God for the Word that is planted in my heart.

The Word being sown into the hearts of men leaves a lasting impression if it is planted in good ground. That is why only what comes out of a man can defile him and not what goes in because out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. A good tree can only bear good fruit and a bad tree can only bear bad fruit. The soil (heart) itself makes the plant grow and bear fruit. You can count how many seeds are in an apple but you cannot count how many apples will come out of a seed. What a great harvest that comes out of it!

— Shani