Some people tell me that when it comes to sharing your faith, Australia is hard soil.
And that may be true. People here often seem less responsive compared to places like the Philippines. I remember joking that in the Philippines, you could share the Gospel with 10 people, and by noon, there would be 12 new Christians. I haven’t seen such a response in Australia.
But let’s assume for a minute that the soil here is hard.
How do you turn hard soil into good soil?
When I was a teenager, I wanted to plant a garden in our backyard. I watered the area all night, but the water only soaked in about two inches. So, I used a spade to break up the soil, repeating the process over and over. Then, I went to the local dairy to get cow manure and barn sweepings to enrich the soil. Within two years, I had the most beautiful soil to work with.
Spiritually speaking, how do we turn hard soil into something that allows people to respond to the Gospel?
I think there are three key elements:
- Respond to God's love and direction
- Pray for people
- Care for the needs of others
How you respond to God’s love and direction makes a huge difference in the spiritual climate of your community. Many of my neighbors may never read the Bible, but they will read the lives of the Christians around them. They’ll see if we live in a way that reflects God's love—and if it’s attractive.
A Story of Integrity
Here’s a story my friend Steve shared with me that illustrates this.
Steve had a doctor’s appointment at 11:15 am. He lost track of time and ended up arriving 10 minutes late. The receptionist told him that if he had been one minute later, they wouldn’t have been able to take him. Embarrassed, Steve blurted out, "Oh, I thought my appointment was at 11:30."
Even though no one could have proven otherwise, Steve’s conscience immediately started bothering him. He has made a commitment to the Lord to seek forgiveness any time he knowingly lies or misleads someone.
He wrestled with himself for a couple of minutes, trying to convince himself that it was "no big deal." But the Spirit kept convicting him, so he went back to the receptionist and confessed: "Hey, listen, my conscience has been bothering me. What I said earlier wasn’t true. I knew what time the appointment was, and I was just embarrassed because I wasn’t paying attention to the time. Would you forgive me?"
The receptionist looked confused and said, "Well, sure, but why are you telling me this?"
Steve explained, "Because I’m a follower of Jesus, and I’ve committed to Him to be a good ambassador to others."
Moments like that may not seem huge, but they soften hearts in ways we may never fully realize.
Prayer Softens the Soil
The second way to soften the soil is through prayer. You could start small by praying for one non-Christian at dinner or before bed. Or maybe you could organize a regular prayer walk with friends and pray over your entire neighborhood.
Meet Practical Needs
The third way is by meeting practical needs. A friend and his wife often babysit for couples in their community so they can have some quality time together. Simple acts of love and service can open doors for the Gospel.
Are these three steps guaranteed to improve the soil? Not necessarily.
Even Jesus, who performed miracles in front of many, faced people who would not believe. As John 12:37-40 (NIV) reminds us:
"Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: 'Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?' For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 'He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.'"
No matter how much love, prayer, and service we offer, there will be times when the soil remains hard. It’s not our job to guarantee results, but to faithfully sow the seeds and trust God for the harvest. Our obedience in sharing, praying, and serving matters, because God is the one who ultimately softens hearts in His timing.
But maybe, just maybe, if we focus on responding to God's love and direction, praying for people, and caring for the needs of others—and encouraging others to do the same—we might see the greatest move of God in history.
Let’s Pray
Lord Jesus, Please soften the spiritual soil in my community. Open the eyes of my friends and neighbors so they may see their need for You. Help me respond to Your love and direction with faithfulness and show me how to work with other Christians to meet the needs of those around us. Teach us to pray with compassion and urgency, trusting You for the harvest. Amen.