"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." Matthew 13:18-23
when i read this i so appreciate its simplicity – a story that can can so lived out in real life.
we all know people who respond to the good news and come to church and maybe grow for a bit but then drift away or give up or are drawn away by worldly attractions such as money, career, relationships etc… and we so know people who respond and flourish.
i want to be a fruitful flourishing responder. good soil.
i want to receive the seed of God’s Word and be one who produces a crop. who holds on, who seeks first the kingdom, who has good roots and finds peace in God.
my husband is a gardener. he loves getting out in the garden and planting things and growing things and eating the things we’ve cooked. we’ve learned that good soil produces good food. the better the soil the better the result. to make good soil we added fertilizer and nutrients. we added manure. yes. crap. i always think that the poop in our life helps make the soil better. it can keep our hearts softer and more receptive to God.
this parable also shows me how damaging fear and worry and the cares of this world are to my life. troubles are a reality of life, but it is how we respond and react to them that matters. wealth and money are not bad in themselves but when they became master and matter more to us than generosity and following God they can choke the life out of me.
and you know, those that are in the rocky place or the thorny place or the path… its not a final destination. rocks can be removed. thorns pulled out. paths relocated. ground prepared. the farmer works hard to pull up the thorns and to dig the rocks out. i believe that God is the farmer and that we partner with Him to produce good soil in our lives. we say YES to His care and His tending, His rock removal and His healing, His uprooting and His planting.
as a housegroup leader this is also encouraging… that i can keep working on the soil of my housegroupies lives and hearts.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matthew 13:44-46
This parable shows me that God is worth all that i have in the world, that nothing compares to Him and that giving up the things that could bring false security and putting all my hope in Him is true satisfaction and security. Its very much a seek first parable: seek first the Kingdom of God, make that the first priority.
God’s Kingdom was considered so valuable by the men in the parable that they sold everything to gain the Kingdom. I wonder what the reaction of their family and friends were when they sold the car, the house, the playstation, the iphone, the record collection, their clothes, their everything… The men took deliberate, intentional, life-altering, life-restructuring action to acquire the items of value.
What may look like foolishness to the world is gain to Christ. what may look like a big mistake, throwing your life away, is in fact gain, both eternally and now. Notice that the men, once they had purchased the field and the pearl were filled with joy. Joy is the reward of the kingdom.
The kingdom of the heavens is an item of surpassing value(forgiveness, peace, meaning, purpose, grace to endure, living hope, promise of eternal life)
my heart longs to know God more, to make Him known more, to draw closer and to live His ways, pleasing for Him.
His Kingdom come, His will be done. Seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness. In my life, today and forever
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