09/07/2013
Jesus said, “Listen carefully to this story about a farmer who planted seeds. Some seeds fell on the road where birds quickly devoured them. Some seeds fell on rocky ground with very little soil. They sprouted right away because the soil wasn’t very deep, but when the sun came up, they quickly withered and died because they had failed to put down roots. Some seeds fell among thistles that strangled the plants, making it impossible for them to produce a crop. But some seeds fell on rich, fertile soil and went on to produce a bountiful harvest—one that dwarfed the farmer’s wildest dreams.”
Then Jesus said, “If you don’t understand the meaning of this story you won’t get anything out of all the others I’m going to tell either; so let Me explain it to you. The farmer is planting God’s message in people’s hearts. The soil on the road represents people whose hearts are steeped in sin. No sooner do they hear the Good News than Satan swaps it with the pleasures of this world. The rocky soil represents people who get excited when they hear the Good News; but, since they don’t let the message sink deep into their hearts, they give up and turn back to their old lives at the first sign of trouble. The soil teaming with thistles represents people who hear and accept the Good News, but soon they let their old worries and fears push God’s love out of their hearts. They allow the false pleasures of wealth to creep in and suffocate the beautiful message they so recently accepted. Their unbridled passion to own more and more stuff strangles God’s Word until it becomes meaningless to them. But the rich, fertile soil represents people who not only hear and accept the Gospel, they live it! By opening their hearts to God’s Word and allowing Him to work through their lives, they produce a spiritual crop that surpasses their wildest dreams.” ~Mark 4:3-8 & 13-20
