Deferred Seed

When I hear the Word and in my mind apply it to someone I know “who needs to hear this”, the Word is not allowed to take root in my heart. I believe it is good seed and do not deny our need of it. But if I do not “exclusively” apply it fully to my own heart first and allow it to take firm root and perform its work of conviction directly to me, then I am hardening myself and stiffening my neck and leaving the seed exposed to be soon removed from my opportunity to benefit from it.

The hard path can be hardened by abusive conditioning by others for a time. But ultimately I choose whether to stay hardened in my familiar identity or submit to the ever-persistent softening efforts of the gentle rain of the Holy Spirit. If I will humble myself and pray and release my grip on my old identity and seek His face to see who I really am, then I will allow the Word to sprout and take root in me. When the Word has first grown and matured in my heart, then seeds from my plants can fall on other soil and I have become an example to them of how to respond properly to the reception of the seed.