Philippians 3:7-8 "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ."

In the world we live in, it is common for people to identify with different things, whether it be gender, race, feelings, family, words spoken over them, gifts, talents, etc.

When we are Born Again, our identity is found in Christ. The apostle Paul discovered that when he surrounded his life to the Lord Jesus Christ, what he once identified with was now worth nothing because he understood that his value was not based on his own achievements but on what God said about him.

Luke 8:15 “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.”

The desire of our heart is to be the good soil that produces fruit. Living a fruitful life means that we walk in the promises of God in our own lives, but we also get to be a blessing to others. Living a fruitful life brings God glory. (John 15:8)

I love this time of the year when people are more open and reflective on what Jesus has done for them on the cross. We're mindful of the amazing truth that the Son of God willingly laid down His life for the whole world, past, present and future, and as a result, Salvation is available to all who would believe in His Name.

As I was reflecting on the goriness and brutality of the scourging and the crucifixion that Jesus went through, the Holy Spirit said to me, "That is how valuable people are to Me."

Luke 8:15 AMPC

“But as for that [seed] in the good soil, these are [the people] who, hearing the Word, hold it fast in a just noble, virtuous) and worthy heart, and steadily bring forth fruit with patience.”

The Seed of the Word of God is incorruptible, enduring and lasts forever. Within this Seed is the power to change a person into a whole new creation and change the destiny of their eternity. 

In the natural, a seed must be planted in order for the power within the seed to grow and become what it is designed to be. No matter how much power that seed contains, it will only produce a harvest if it is planted in good soil that will provide the right environment for it to flourish.

Mark 4:14-17

The sower sows the Word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the Word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the Word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the Word’s sake, immediately they stumble.

The Word of God is the seed; our hearts are the soil. 

It is our choice what kind of soil we are. Our willingness to hear, understand and act on what we have heard will determine what kind of soil we are. 

"And He *said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the Word. These are the ones who are beside the road where the Word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the Word which has been sown in them."

In science class, when researching the impact or effect of an object, two different things were considered when determining the outcome. 

The Variable and the Constant. 

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus talks about the seed, which is the Word of God, and the soil, which is our heart.