Grace, Hope & Peace, Friend;
As I read Jesus’ parable of the sower and the different types of soil (Mark 4:3-9), I noticed two phrases that got me thinking; “Listen to this!” (Vs. 3) and, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Vs. 9)
Before He died, Jesus promised His followers He would send the Holy Spirit to guide us into all the truth. (John 16:13) One of the amazing things about the Spirit is, He is not limited to one view of a parable; He can show us multiple lessons from the same story! Two questions for us today: “Do we listen?” and “Do we hear?“
We sometimes think of the sower as the one who shares God’s word, and we use this parable to encourage Christians to share God’s message; Some will accept it and some will not. There is nothing incorrect with that understanding – Jesus Himself told us to “Preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15) But there’s more to see here!
God is the supreme ‘sower!’ He ‘sowed’ His seed (Jesus – the Word (John 1:1&14)) in the world. Humanity is the ‘soil.’ Some of us don’t accept it – Satan clouds our minds. (Mark 4:15) Some of us think it’s a great story but are easily distracted from allowing it to grow in us. (Mark 4:17) Some of us accept God’s message readily, but life – events, worries and trials – sidetrack us from being productive. (Mark 4:19) And some of us hear God’s message and let it grow in our lives – bearing fruit. (Mark 4:20)
Are we productive? Am I producing the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, (Galatians 5:22-23) that the Sower – God – has sown in my life?
Adon HaKatzir – Lord of the harvest – Help me produce the fruit of Your Spirit, in my daily life.
You take care of the land and water it. You make it very fertile. The rivers of God are full of water. Grain grows because you make it grow.
Psalm 65:9 (ICB)
Cultivate His fruit,
Words of Encouragement 