SOWERS OF GOD’S WORD
The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” —Mark 4:14-20
There are many ways to plant seeds. Today’s plant seeding machines are a marvel to watch– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ycc5Slwtzo . It is also true that there are many ways to plant the Word of God in people’s lives today. But, whether we are planting physical seeds or spiritual seeds, it is God who makes the seed grow (I Corinthians 3:5-9).
When we plant seed (the Word of God) in people’s lives there are different responses as Jesus explains in the Parable of the Sower above. The first most important part of planting His Word is going to others with it! “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:13-15). Are you going to others with the express intent of sharing God’s Word with them? That is the only way they will hear His Word. We must be active in reaching them with His Word.
When the seed, the Word of God, is planted in a person’s live some of the seed falling “on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away.” These people do not come to an understanding of God’s Word and so the seed of His Word bears no fruit in their lives.
Then the “seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.” Because these people are not rooted in God’s Word they fall away and the Word of God does not bear any fruit in their lives either.
So also the “seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.” God’s Word does not impact their lives.
But “the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Those who truly “hear and accept” God’s Word will produce a harvest of varying degrees. May we be that type of “good soil” that produces fruit and may some of the seed we sow fall on good soil of others which produces much fruit in a person’s life!
Dear Father, may I be faithful in taking the seed of Your Word to those who need it. Yes, Lord, help me to do the part of sowing your seed which You have called every follower of Yours to be involved in. May we be faithful in the authority of Jesus and by the Holy Spirit’s power. May it be so!