The parable of the farmer scattering the seed

Matt:13:1-23

First set of seeds fell on the foot path - those that heard but did not understand. In fact did not want to understand. It is about these people that Jesus earlier said in v:12 - but for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. And in v:15

For the hearts of these people is hardened

And their ears cannot hear

And they have closed their eyes

So their eyes cannot see

And their ears cannot hear

And their hearts cannot understand

They cannot turn to me

And let me heal them.

They don't want to. They don't desire. They prefer the other ways over the One way Jesus Christ. What happens to them? Immediately the devil will come and snatch the seed sown not allowing it to sprout. I hope none of us are in this category.

The second set of seeds fell on shallow ground. It just sprouted but couldn't cast the roots deep because the soil was shallow. And as soon as problems and persecutions come, they wither because they are not rooted deep in the word. The mere abscence of problems or material blessings is their priority. Financial security and healing is their driving force. Once that is taken away, they dwindle.

The third set of seeds fell among the thorns. These also sprouted but were choked by the thorns surrounding them, which is nothing but the alluring wealth and worries of the world. Their minds are fully crowded by these thoughts that they don't have time for the word. They listen to it casually, they are impressed by it. But they allow the other things to take root deeper in them. They feed on those things more than the word. So the word has no space to grow in their lives.

Blessed are the fertile soil on which the seed fell. The harvest was plenty - 30 times, 60 times and 100 times. Why? The soil was already ploughed, broken down, washed and well watered. Adequate manure and fertilisers added and then the seed was sown. Prepare your hearts and wait with expectancy for the word working in you. It will push you out of your comfort zones, but the yield will be beautiful.

Let those who have an ear, let them hear.

Image credit: https://www.gospelimages.com/paintings/99/the-parable-of-the-sower?

Comments

Dopamine rush

My nourishment comes from doing the will of God who sent me and from finishing His work. Jn:4:34 What is your driving force? What gives you a dopamine rush? What gives you energy to move on? For Jesus it was doing the will of the Father, who sent Him and finishing the work He was sent to do. Be it convincing an outcast woman to tell her own city, that she has found the Messiah. Be it healing fever, or blindness, or lameness. Be it sleeping in the open. Do you grade your work for God? Oh! Just because I could only wash the dishes and not give a message today doesn't mean I am not useful for the Kingdom. God doesn't categorise people by the work they do. But He sees the heart with which they do the task given to them. Am I doing it cheerfully? Or is there a list of complaints? Image credit: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/understanding-hypnosis/202402/3-activities-to-beneficially-release-dopamine/amp

Ashley

Dear Brother. Rest in peace. This life is small. Yet proved again. But you proved. Living for Christ alone matters. Trying to acquire skill And to use your well earned medical knowledge For the poor and needy. Your words still ring in my ear. "We are alone there" Brother gone too soon. Leaving behind a legacy. Well done good and faithful servant. Enough is enough. Come back and enter the rest planned for you. In His bosom, the classic smile I can imagine. Your laughter will surely resound in heaven today. There is rejoicing in heaven For a son has come back home. Fulfilling his Father's will for him Why should earth be gloomy? For he is home.

Beat around the bush

Do you want to get well? Jn:5:6 To the specific question that Jesus asked, the invalid is beating around the bush. When He is willing to do a supernatural miracle, the man expresses logicality. Let God do what He is good at. Expect unexpected things from God. Those are not unnatural for Him. That is faith. Believing that God can do anything. Nothing is impossible for Him. He need not walk in human's pathway. He is not limited to man's perspective. He is beyond that. Being His child it is our privilege to wait to expect Him to work that way. Image courtesy: https://unsplash.com/photos/a-man-in-a-field-of-bushes-with-a-stick--YhAwRDPjoc

Closed door

John:3:27 No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. This dictum if we inscribed in our hearts would ease up our lives. John was losing on his followers. His disciples were complaining. But John was sure - I am only here to prepare the way for Him. He is the bridegroom, and the joy of the bride is to join the bridegroom. The bestman is simply glad to stand with him. This is the solution for all forms of jealousy. There is no need to compare your walk with his/hers. No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. Which means no one can have something which God has taken away from him. Closed doors always lead to paths which are not destined for you. Do not force it open. Open doors lead to paths which God has planned for you. Walk in it. May God open our eyes and equip us to see God's hands in our lives. To see closed doors as God given opportunities to say no as well. Above all has He not promised that He will be with you till the very end...

Aide

Jn:4:43-54 The government official wanted Jesus to come and heal his son and he wanted Him to come then itself for the boy was very sick. But Jesus said - Go back home, your son will live. And he just believed and went back home. The moment Jesus said that, fever left him. The man simply believed. No traditional background. No previous experiences. Not according to his own plan. But his faith made his son well. The son had a believing father. The paralysed man had four believing friends. Whose faith- aide are you? They wouldn't be able to believe, because they are in the midst of suffering. But will you have faith? Not that your faith will save them. But you be steadfast in faith. You continue to intercede for them. You tell words of faith to them. You bring them to Christ. You pray with them. You be instrumental in instilling faith in them. I believe. Image credit: https://blog.businessglu.com/reaching-out-with-a-p-u-s-h/

What is your dream?

My Father is always working; so am I. Jn:5:18 Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. Jn:5:19 Infact the Father will show Him, how to do even greater works. Jn:5:20 The Father has life in Himself and He has granted the same life giving power to His Son. Jn:5:26 Anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done and even greater works because I am going to be with the Father. Jn:14:12 The Father and I are one. Jn:10:30 And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads you into all truth. Jn:14:16-17 You see the sequence of events? The Father has a will and He is executing it. The Son does the Father's will. And because He rose up from the dead and is living even now and because He has sent the Helper, the Holy Spirit to His beloved children, we are called to do the Father's will. See, we are called to do a greater purpose. A greater life. Not a mediocre one. Are you just pushing...

I can do nothing on my own.

I can do nothing on my own. Jn:5:30 This is not a statement of a helpless man. But of Jesus Himself. The Son of God. God Himself. This doesn't reflect His helpless state. But that, His will was so aligned with the will of the Father, that made Him say - I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my will (later in the last part of the same verse). In the garden of Gethsamene, He echoes the same thought - not my will but Yours. Jesus knew that He had come to do the Father's will. Not His own. As I said, it was not out of helplessness. Infact He was so focussed that He did not want any other will. Anything apart from the will of the Father, He did not want. How tuned are you, to God's will in your life? Whether you eat or drink, do it for the glory of God. Anything apart from this is hamartos. Am I sensitive to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit? So much that I will do only what the Father desires. How foolish of me to bring God to the center of my will...

The halfbaked Bard

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