I would like to talk to you about seed.
As we enter springtime and begin to plant our gardens this year, I find it most convenient to sow some seed here.
Mark 4: 3-9 says, “3 Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.
“7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold. 9 And he said, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear.’” This parable was meant for farmers who were listening to Jesus preach about the kingdom of God. This parable tells us that there are different ways that people receive, or reject, the Word when it is given.
When a person hears the Word and it is either rejected or ignored, this is the seed that fell along the path. When it has been sown and a person receives it, but does not grow in it you find the rocky ground.
They hear the Word and believe but because they do not tend to what they have heard it quickly dies out.
The seed that falls among the thorns is like the person who receives the Word and believes, but falls on hard times in life and soon departs from the Word or becomes stagnant in their faith.
But, the seed that falls on good soil, one that has been prepared beforehand, nourished, and watered daily? That Word is received, believed and provides fruit! This is the believer. This is the one who will be the harvest.
I do not know where you are in this, but I urge you, become good soil today. Let the seed fall on good ground, produce grain, grow up and yield a harvest.
If life has choked you out like the weeds, pick yourself back up again.
Get back into the Word and nourish that soil.
Nathan Toon is the pastor at Resurrection Church, located at 19320 State Highway 112 in Cassville. He may be reached at 417-200-2346.
