Now, I know that you can recall a time in your life when you witnessed someone do something, or heard of someone doing something that was wrong that you simply did not agree with.  You did it, you judged them.  Every one of us has the potential to make mistakes and we will continue to make them along the way.  However, in the grand scheme of things, if you look at you life as a fruit bearing tree for a moment, our relationship with God and our goal is to produce good fruit.  When we look at a tree's fruit, we do not look at one moment in time, rather a period of production.  The fruit reveals the nature of the root, and each tree is recognized by its own fruit.  Bad trees do not produce good fruit, nor do good trees produce bad fruit.  What I am trying to say here is that it comes from the heart.  The product of life reflects the heart, or our inner character and what Jesus calls the treasure of the heart. 

Now, think back to a time when someone has judged you.  This undoubtedly will not be very hard for you to remember, and it is probably still very tender and fresh in your mind no matter how long ago it happened.  When judging us it is almost impossible for them to; #1 have all the facts and truth of what happened; and #2 often times they are judging you based on their self constructed opinions of reality.  It took me a long time to realize that it is not my place to judge others.  I will profess to you that within myself, I have an incredible feeling of liberation and peace in releasing those judgments to God.  To be able to give it over to Him will relieve so much tension and stress in your life.  So think about how you felt deep inside when someone judged you.  I know how it feels as I am sure you do as well.  I know the treasure of my heart is good, and you know the treasure of your heart is good, but that still does not take away the pain of being judged by someone.  So the next time you are quick to judge, think of how it hurt when you were the one that was judged.

Now to help us understand this verse a little more, let's define some of the terms used in it.

• A good measure: This refers to purchasing a commodity of some sort where the amount measured out is not short, skimpy, or even fair, but a good measurement.


• Pressed down: The grain in the measuring container is pressed down, so that all the spaces are filled and the container holds as much as possible.


• Shaken together: The measuring container is shaken, so that the grain can fill every empty space.


• Running over: The container is filled and the top is a rounded heap so great that it overflows the container.


• Will be poured into your lap: The picture is of this measure now being poured in the individual's container which is the fold of his outer garment. Between the shoulders and the belt, this outer cloak would be loose and could form a kind of pocket into which this measurement could be poured.


• Finally... For measure you use: If we judge, condemn and withhold forgiveness, the same will happen to us. 

My friends, God will deal with us this way.  Our behavior towards others determines God's behavior towards us.

Matthew 5:  12, 14, 15 tells us:
"And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."
"For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you."
"But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions."

You see, God prefers to act in Mercy, but those of us that want to put another on trial, simply invite God to put them on trial, and he who condemns another for his failings, invites God to condemn him for his own failings.  How do you prefer to act?  In mercy...... or are you quick to judge.

One last verse I want to share with you, tells me that Paul understood the Gospel.  He got it! 

1 Corinthians 4: 4-5
"My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent.  It is the Lord who judges me.  Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes.  He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts.  At that time each will receive his praise from God."

Preparing the land for food plots involves some scientific reasoning, a lot of hard work and sweat.  The soil needs to be the correct PH in order for your efforts to be successful.  If your PH is not adequate, then you apply Lime to raise it to optimal growing conditions.  Each year as you continue to work this land, it becomes easier and you get a better return on your investment.  The seeds are sown and fertilizer applied for the annual crops that will provide the deer with the much needed protein for the summer months.
 
For me, this planting of seeds relates directly to my life and how I lead it.  I am drawn to the “Parable of the Sower” as Jesus taught the people and His Disciples by the lake.  As I read this parable, it tells me that the seeds that I sow in life that are careless and not carefully thought out, will never have a chance to take root or even begin to sprout.  Other seeds sown may sprout at first, but if they are not sown in a righteous way they will never thrive.  We have to give our total trust and life to Jesus, otherwise the hesitation and worry will overpower these seeds, choke them out and they too will not survive.  If you put your whole heart and all your effort into God, then your crops of life will prosper greater than you can ever imagine.  I often think to myself, why did it take me so long to figure this out?  It is such a pure feeling when you do finally come to realize this and walk in your life as an upright man. 

Mark 4: 1-20

“Again Jesus began to teach by the lake.  The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge.  He taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching said:  “Listen!  A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.  It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.  Still other seed fell on good soil.  I came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.”

Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about parables.  He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you.  But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, “they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!”

Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable?  How then will you understand any parable?  The farmer sows the word.  Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown.  As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.  Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.  But since they have no root, they only last a short time.  When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.  Still others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop-thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times what was sown.”

As we build and share our experiences and teachings of the word, it is very fulfilling to work the land that God has provided and at the same time quenching our thirst for His message.  As we share experiences with each other, we realize and reaffirm that no man is perfect and everyone has sinned.  From time to time, we all struggle with our guilt from the past.  While we may never forget the sins we have committed, we have peace knowing that Christ died for our sins. 

This spring I encourage you to look at the seeds you are sowing in your life.  May they be sown deep, in rich soil and grow to enrich your righteous walk more than you could ever imagine.