Sowing: April 4, 2014

TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY APRIL 4, 2014.

SOWING

DEFINITION:

Spreading seed over the soil for the purpose of growth; planting seed to produce a crop.

SCRIPTURE:

Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. Matthew 13:3-4.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Jesus was talking to the crowd of people who had gathered to see Him and He shared with them a parable about the sower going out to sow. Jesus often taught in parables when speaking about the things of God. A parable uses something familiar to the listeners to teach them a principle about something which was unfamiliar to them.

In this parable Jesus uses, as an illustration, the planting of crops. There were in that day many farmers so everyone understood this illustration that Jesus used to teach them. Jesus wanted all those that had chosen to follow Him to understand that planting seed (crops) to meet our physical needs (food) are compared to the need to plant the proper seed (the Bible) in our lives to meet our spiritual needs.

In Matthew 13:3-4 Jesus begins the parable as written in verses 3-4 above. He says to the disciples that, when anyone hears the Word (the seed) and does not understand it, the evil one comes (birds) and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.

Jesus goes on in this parable (Matthew 13:5-9) to explain that the seed which fell on rocky places sprung up quickly but soon withered away because it had no roots. Some seed fell among thorns and soon the thorns choked the good seed out. And then other seed fell on good soil and yielded a crop.

Jesus then in verses 20-23 explains that the seed falling on rocky places is like the man who hears the Word but it never takes root in his life so ultimately when affliction and/or persecution comes his shallow faith fails. His failure is because spiritually He had not applied his reading of the Bible to his life. Basically what he reads in the Bible goes in one ear and out the other.

Jesus explains that the seed planted among the thorns relates to the man who hears the Word but the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke out the Word from his life and he becomes unfruitful.

Finally, Jesus explains that the seed that was sown on good soil is like the man who hears the Word and not only understands it but allows it to take root in his life so that it bears fruit and produces a crop of new believers. This is the kind of life that our Lord wants from us.

The flooding caused by hurricane Katrina here in America several years ago devastated much farmland. When the flood waters receded the soil in many places had too high a PH level to be good for farming. The soil needed to be treated and reconditioned. This is a good illustration of what can take place in our hearts when we allow the influence of the world to come flooding into our life. Our hearts need to be reconditioned by the nourishment of God’s Word and the healing power of prayer.

If you have allowed the sinful influences of the world to come flooding into your life and the Word of God has no affect on you then you are like the bad soil. Your heart and mind have become hardened and the seed of God’s Word cannot take root.

Do not be discouraged. You can change by just praying and asking God to open your spiritual eyes as you read the Bible and be willing to let God’s Holy Spirit speak to you.

This parable is a reminder to all believers to faithfully read God’s Word daily so that we are continually planting the seeds of God’s instruction into our hearts that will cause us to grow spiritually and enable us to bear more fruit.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week continues to challenge us to memorize the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20: 4-6. (Paraphrased)

You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness. You shall not worship them or serve them.

PRAYER:

Help my family realize the importance of the seed we sow. Help us to work each day to sow the good seed of the gospel that You can nurture and grow into a crop of new believers that will bring honor to Your name.