Read Luke 8:8,15
"But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop"
Luke 8:15
Note the words ‘retain’ (NIV) or ‘take it to themselves’(NJB). We can hear the word but not necessarily retain it as the parable has explained because ‘we have not taken it to ourselves’. The only way we are going to bear fruit in our lives is if we recognise that God’s loving and challenging Word is addressed to us personally. It is He who then makes the plant grow and bear fruit. Indeed, by living in the Spirit, we begin to see that ‘the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:22).
Perseverance requires grace first and foremost, but also effort, not growing tired and not losing heart. There will be times when our 'physical pilgrimage' will be a parable of our 'spiritual pilgrimage'. Moments when the heat is too much, or we are tired walking from place to place, or we experience a moment of disappointment. As we persevere, may that graced determination to do likewise in our walk with the Lord, grow more steadily in us so that we will bear fruit for the Kingdom.
"Lord, help me retain your Word in my heart by living in Your Presence. Give me the patience to wait until the fruit of Your Spirit working within me matures”.