Do We Know About Seeding and Weeding?
Good Morning Friends,
Today we are encouraged to be a garden with the right soil, giving attention to God’s word and not letting our problems choke out the joy of life. Today we look at how to cultivate our hearts for a spiritual harvest. Today we read about the parable of the sower, the soil, the seed, and the state of our condition. The parable is told by Jesus the same day that He was rejected by the religious leaders of Jerusalem. With the backdrop of this very important event in Holy History we explore the state of our conditions….we ask ourselves whether we have spiritual roots at all or if we have shallow, strangled or deep roots. Today we look at the importance of putting down roots and our need to pull our weeds on a regular basis. Today we discover once again the power of God’s word in our lives as we ask: Are We Sowing God’s Word? Do We Know About Seeding and Weeding?
Scripture: His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
2 Peter 1:3 (NRSV)
Goodness is the harvest that is produced from the seeds the peacemakers plant in peace.
James 3:18 (TEV)
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!”
Matthew 13:1-9 (NRSV)
“Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
Matthew 13:18-23 (NRSV)
Message: How is it that the same Word of God produces such drastically different results in the lives of people and their values? The results are more varied than translational differences can explain. The results are perplexing. The same question has been asked across history and even today…why? Why do people reject Jesus, the Word made flesh even when the Holy Spirit is so obviously present? Why do we reject each other? Jesus’ parable helps us to understand the dynamics. We see that good ministry produces differing results in the hearers. Here we learn that the seed at first responds favorably in three of the four soils. Here it is important to note that even a few seeds sown on good soil can ultimately revolutionize a community and church with an abundant harvest. But, we have to give the Word time to work. Don’t miss the point. If you find good soil cultivate it but never forget to sow the seed as broadly as you can. We as the Body of Christ are to preach to the masses even without words…recognizing that all those seeds of love that sprout give some witness… but we are also to minister to individuals recognizing that even a small group…a few seeds sown on good soil can accomplish much.
In the parable of the sower, the seeds represent the good news. The soil represents our responses to the good news. And here, if we listen and hear, God’s word becomes spiritual weed killer. Here we discover that if we truly want to live spiritually productive lives, then we need to plow the field and prepare our hearts to receive God’s word. We need to weed and read daily. We need to put down roots and persevere through trials… we need to pursue the spiritual riches of the word and water. We need to plow, plant, water and weed the garden of our soul.
Pray that we each nurture the seeds of love and goodness planted in our lives. Pray these seeds are strengthened by the Word so that our faith takes root, thrives and grows strong. Pray that in God’s time, by His grace and for His glory we develop deep roots. Pray we hear the message of patience and hope. Pray we rejoice in the promise of the harvest. Pray we bear fruit with seeds for the ongoing sowing of the Word. Pray we be of a seed sown from heaven but be of some earthly good. Pray today we thank all the spiritual farmers that are the results of seeds cultivated. Pray that when we hear God’s word that we listen. Pray we understand. Pray we believe and know the joy of life. Pray we believe in the power of the mustard seed. Pray that we are being rooted and established in love. Pray we do not allow the weeds of faithlessness and selfishness to creep in and grow in our hearts. Pray we weed out anxieties. Pray we weed out wicked ways. Pray we weed out iniquities, transgressions and sins. Pray with repentance as God weeds out the garden of our souls….as God produces a great and transformational harvest. Pray we cultivate great relationships that produce fruit for the Kingdom.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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