In every mediation I have done, I am, in the first stages of the process, looking for clues to a couple of important pieces that will guide my work with them:
1st: The level of spiritual understanding of the parties and
2nd: The condition of their heart (not the physical health, but spiritual)
Why do a heart check by listening to the parties talk? There is a scripture that says it best –
“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45
I listen “between the lines” to what they are saying to understand what is in their hearts, the source. Why? Henry Blackaby says it well – “At any time, the receptiveness of your heart will determine your response to God’s Word.”
And since we are following biblical principles in our mediation, I need to know how “receptive” they are to the scripture that will be guiding us, to the direction provided by God’s Word.
Blackaby points to a great parable shared by Jesus that provides the wisdom for understanding the principles involved here – the farmer sowing seed (Luke 8:4-15)
The quick version is that in the practices of the time, the seed was sometimes sown first and the field plowed afterward (which, as a farmer’s daughter, blows me away) and there were often roads and pathways that went directly through the fields. So in the parable, Jesus talks about the places where the seed lands:
–some fell along the path, was trampled on and the birds ate it up
–some fell on rocky soil and when plants came up, they withered due to lack of moisture
–some fell among thorns which grew with it and choked out the plants
–some fell on good soil and came up and yielded a crop – a 100 times more than was sown
Thinking of the receptiveness of the heart in comparison to the soil is revealing. If the heart is like trampled ground (hardened by bitterness and unforgiveness) then the person is not able to accept a message from God, including the scripture we may be needing to apply to the situation.
This calls to mind a case where one party, as we discussed relevant scripture and principles, crossed his arms across his chest, leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes! His body language spoke volumes to me – and the words he eventually used revealed total bitterness and angry unforgiveness. And yes, this man had worked for a Christian ministry in the past!
If the heart remains unchanged after hearing scripture, it could also mean the receptiveness is like the shallow soil on top of a rock. As Blackaby shares, such a person hearing God’s Word may accept it in their mind, or intellectually, but the truth will not penetrate their heart so that there is a difference in their choices and actions. No change.
The thorny soil is more interesting to consider because there is a time when the plant grows but the thorns, or weeds, which Blackaby likens to “the cares of the world; the pursuit of earthly pleasures” actually choke out the plants. They cannot take hold in the soil of the heart and produce righteousness.
Sometimes this thorny condition is one of the most difficult to discern. It usually comes through in the words coming out of the mouth being mostly focused on worldly logic and personal fears trumping trust in God or His Word. I’ll hear arguments that the biblical principles just “don’t make sense” to them or in “their situation” or it just “doesn’t fit today’s world”.
Of course, we all hope that we have a heart full of the good soil that Jesus desires in us. Thus, if we receive a word from God via scripture, the Holy Spirit, good teaching, prayer or whatever He sends our way, then we will apply it and bring forth fruit in due time. That fruit will be a Christlike life.
Of course, Blackaby poses the key question “How do you develop a heart that is like good soil?”
And that is what we are doing in a biblical mediation process, plowing ground, tilling soil — better known as helping folks see deep into their own hearts, be reminded of what God did for them and search for the logs in their own eyes rather than the specks in the eyes of others.
Sadly, if our hearts were receptive to a word from God yesterday, as Blackaby points out, this does not guarantee it is receptive today.
So we work hard in our mediation practice to help people cultivate the soil of their hearts in the middle of the situation facing them — to be able to repent of any bitterness, anger or unforgiveness. And to walk that through completely by confession and apology and reach a place of forgiveness.
What can each of us do in order to cultivate good soil in our heart? Again, scripture states it better than I….
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8
Don’t stop there – this scripture gives us hope as well….
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
Over these many years of many biblical mediations, I can add my “amen” to this encouragement to “not become weary in doing good”. So many times after doing all that I think we could possibly do to help people see their own sin, own it and properly respond to it, they will still seem unmoved at all. Weariness starts to plague me.
And then the Lord brings His strength to the matter at hand, and in such a variety of ways that I could fill a book, He brings people to see truth, own their behaviors and reconcile with both Him and the other party. It has been my privilege to witness these.
And yes, there are times that I don’t get to see that happen, but I know that God is still working and will use all that has been done in His name. And I will continue to daily prepare my heart for the word God has for me! May I challenge you to do the same?
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