“The other day,” Stan commented one morning, “I was again reading what is referred to in the Bible as the parable of the sower.”
“Where Jesus talked about the different kinds of soil for the word of God?”
“That’s it,” Stan replied. “And as I was focusing on what Jesus said and thinking about the actual act of sowing, it occurred to me that the parable can apply not only to where the seed falls, but how much of it is sowed.”
“How much is sowed? In what way?”
“Let me give you an example from the person I know best,” Stan replied.
“As I have told you many times,” he continued, “I was very slow in coming to faith.”
“Yeah,” I replied, “I think you described yourself as a tough nut to crack!”
“That’s it,” Stan said. “And there was one point in my life when a well-meaning friend gave me a Bible and said I should read it.”
“So,” I replied, “he was sowing God’s word. Good for him!”
“He meant well,” Stan said, “but it was too much. It overwhelmed me. I started to read it, beginning in Genesis, but was quickly discouraged because there was too much for me to take in. I simply didn’t understand and got nothing out of it.”
“So you stopped?” I asked.
“I did,’ Stan replied. “I put the Bible on the shelf and didn’t take it down again for a long time.”
“What caused you to take it down again?”
“Another friend,” Stan said. “But this time the person came alongside of me and helped me to understand and eventually to accept the truth of God’s word.”
“So you came to faith through the help of the second friend?”
“That’s right,” Stan replied. “And my experience has helped me with my approach to others. It’s one thing to sow God’s word in a way that will produce fruit, while it’s a totally different thing to dump God’s word on another person and expect it to make a difference.”
“Isn’t that kind of what discipleship and discipling another person are supposed to be all about? Coming alongside of them?”
“Sure seems like that to me!” Stan replied with a smile. “Since we’re going to reap what we sow, we just as well sow in the best way possible!”
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Bible verses to consider:
The parable of the sower. Matthew 13:3-23.
Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. Luke 8:11.
And when Philip had run up, he heard him (the Ethiopian eunuch) reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Acts of the Apostles 9:30-31.
Now this I say, that he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for those people who sowed your word so I could understand, accept, and embrace it. I confess that too often I do not seek to sow your word in ways so that others can accept and embrace all you have available to them: life eternally with you when it’s time, along with the eternal life of knowing you and Jesus before then. Please, Father, help me to sow your word just as you intend so it will make a difference for you and for your kingdom. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Has God’s word been sown in your life in the sense you have accepted His free and gracious provision of life with Him in eternity when it’s time? If no, why? If you are a Christian, how are you doing in having God sow His word in your life so you draw ever closer to Him? And how are you doing in sowing His word so it makes an eternal difference to and for others? As well as you would like? As well as God wants? If you sense the need for change in how you view the sowing of God’s word — in your life and in the lives of others — how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 