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

Reasoned. #faith7

Heb:11:19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. Who said Christian life is unreasonable? Abraham reasoned based on the One who does things His way. It looks illogical to you because your understanding is limited. Nothing is impossible for God. He is a God who created everything from nothingness. The Sovereign ruler. Abraham believed in this God. And it was natural for him to believe in the normalcy of God. What God could do, he reasoned and therefore he did receive. Believe realistically and logically in the God who is all Powerful. That is reasonable. Look at God not with your finite lenses. Look at the world with His infinitely focussed lens and it will make sense. He is a God who makes impossible things possible. But that is normal for Him. Image credit: https://eccles.utah.edu/news/why-well-reasoned-theories-are-more-important-than-crunched-numbers/

Blessed. #faith8

Heb:11:20-21 When things were still unseen, they blessed their children. Looking forward positively when things were blurry, when things were uncertain, when future looks bleak, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau; Jacob blessed Joseph's son's. Isa:54:13. All your children will be taught by the Lord and great will be their peace. Psalm:127:3. Children are a heritage from the Lord. Psalm:128:3. Children will be like olive shoots around your table. It is the Almighty, Sovereign God who promised this and He will not lie.

Weak. #faith12

Heb:11:34 Whose weakness was turned to strength. Do not be anxious dear one. Do not worry. Are you inherently weak in some areas? In faith that weak point will turn to your strength, the Bible promises. There has been circumstances when the most difficult and discouraging times of your life, you will experience as the most blessed time when you look retrospectively because He was present in those times of trouble. You will learn something worthwhile. You will see the very thing which you were weak at, will turn out to be a blessing for you in the spiritual realm. You will realise that, when you are weak you are strong because you trust in a strong God. You trust in His guiding delivering hand rather than your own instincts. You grow in faith. You gain strength to trust in Him more. He will strengthen and He will guide. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. You will realise that the very things that you are weak at, turn out to be your strong stories of test...

Saw. #faith9

Heb::11:22-23 Joseph saw the future, that his children would go back from Egypt. Therefore arranged to take his bones with them. Moses' parents saw an extra ordinary child in Moses and therefore they protected him from the king's edict. How did they know this? How did they have these personal promises? As result of regular communication with Him who promises, they received these promises and because they were sure that these came from a true God, they acted upon it. What are the personal promises you have received from God. Our God loves to communicate. He loves to give a promise before He does something. That proves He is true. When was the last time you got one, shows how intimate is your relationship with the loving true one. Get promised Act upon it. See His goodness in the land of living. Image credit: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/mothers-hand-on-the-bible--78813062203667778/

Not worthy. #faith13

The world was not worthy of them. Heb:11:38 The world and its blessings eluded them. Fools they look because they chased something they did not receive. The world was not worthy of them. Because of their faith, they deserved much more than what this world could offer them. V:40. God had planned something better for us, so that only together with us, would they be made perfect. Inorder to live with a heavenly or eternal perspective you need to have faith. That eternal perspective is what you are destined for. Without which you are incomplete. And without you heaven is incomplete. Living with a finite perspective of what this world could offer will limit you. What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard and what no human mind has conceived, that things God has prepared for those who love Him. 1 Cor:2:9

Nothing. #faith11

Heb::11:29-31 Red sea crossed. Jericho walls fell. Rahab included. Your God is the God who makes possible the impossibilities. And you trust in this God and therefore He will make your impossibilities possible too. Because He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He will not change. The mountain might look huge. But your God is bigger still. For God nothing is impossible. The same Spirit who raised the Son from the dead, resides in you. Jer:32:27 I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? Image credit: https://wallpapercave.com/impossible-is-nothing-wallpapers

Love for money

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have. Heb:13:5 Love of money is the root of all evil. 1 Tim:6:10 Not money perse. But love for money is the root of all evil. You will never be satisfied. America's first billionaire John D. Rockfeller was asked, how much money was enough? He replied, "Just a little more." This endless pit of discontentment and greed will never be quenched. Money is needed. But love of money is dangerous. It will never satisfy. You compromise on the basics and discredit the ideologies when you try to be filled. But it is like drinking salty water. The hunger just keeps increasing. The solution is to be content with what you have. The promise that follows in v:5b-6 gives you the key. Because God has said, Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid. W hat can man do to me? That the Lord is enough. That He will provide. That He ...

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