From Hard Soil to a Heart Transformed: A Story of Persistent Discipleship

“...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us..." Hebrews 12:1b

A friend of mine recently invited a neighbor to a gathering where many churches and ministries and political leaders came together for an annual event. The neighbor lady was very negative about the program and expressed her displeasure on a comment card at the conclusion of the event. Rather than give up, my friend befriended her neighbor and over time invited her to another event where she heard the Gospel clearly. Later she attended a ladies event and decided to become a disciple of Jesus. My friend is now discipling her neighbor in a one on one discipleship group. 

This is a current and very practical illustration that discipleship is hard work. The parable of the Sower and the seeds is instructive. In this parable Jesus told the story of four different types of soil. Only one soil was suitable for providing what was needed for the seeds to germinate, grow and produce fruit. 

Making disciples requires disciple-makers to nurture the growth of the seed in the good soil but also not to neglect seeds that fall on other less fertile and receptive soil conditions. When the seed falls on ground that is hard, or shallow or infested by weeds it often requires more prayer, time and effort to see results. 

The lady who wrote the negative comments is like the seed that fell on the path - hard soil where nothing could grow. This seed had the same potential as the seed that fell on the good soil but unfortunately it landed where it could not grow. My friend recognized there was much work to do to and set to work "tilling the hard soil". She persisted and today her neighbor is a disciple of Jesus and is part of a one on one discipleship group with my friend. 

Undoubtedly, we could find illustrations of people who represent the seeds that fell on soil that was shallow or the seeds that fell on ground that was infested with weeds. Each situation would require a different approach to bring the seeds to maturity.  

The common and necessary trait for the disciple-maker is to not give up. We all have family members, friends and neighbors who are resistant to the Gospel message. Let's keep running our race with endurance. Let us never give up because even when the soil is not conducive to growing a good crop there are things we can do to bring about change if we do not give up.