Thursday, February 16, 2012
A
Parable about Growth
26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
Jesus has been explaining, through parables, how the kingdom of God grows. We listen to the truth he brings, we obey it, and we share it with others. We let the light of his truth shine through us and look for opportunities to speak the word into someone’s life. When we share the message with others we become sowers of the word. The kingdom of God expands as we sow the word of God.
What happens when people do not respond? What if people ignore the truth? What if people attack us for being a sower of the word? This can be very discouraging.
This parable offers hope to people who sow the word. It teaches us that if we don’t see immediate results that the Gospel will bear fruit in the Lord’s time. When the Gospel is shared, whether it’s from a pulpit or a personal exchange or through a life lived for the glory of God, a mysterious process begins to take place. This process is the sovereign work of God. It is often hidden from the view of man, yet it results in changed lives.
Remember this: there is power in the Word of God. It takes faith to sow the word of God into someone else’s life. Only God can produce fruit.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to be a faithful sower of your Word. Don’t allow me to get
discouraged when I don’t see immediate results. I know growing the seed is the
work that you do and you do it well. I rest in your work and in your will
today. Amen.
26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
Jesus has been explaining, through parables, how the kingdom of God grows. We listen to the truth he brings, we obey it, and we share it with others. We let the light of his truth shine through us and look for opportunities to speak the word into someone’s life. When we share the message with others we become sowers of the word. The kingdom of God expands as we sow the word of God.
What happens when people do not respond? What if people ignore the truth? What if people attack us for being a sower of the word? This can be very discouraging.
This parable offers hope to people who sow the word. It teaches us that if we don’t see immediate results that the Gospel will bear fruit in the Lord’s time. When the Gospel is shared, whether it’s from a pulpit or a personal exchange or through a life lived for the glory of God, a mysterious process begins to take place. This process is the sovereign work of God. It is often hidden from the view of man, yet it results in changed lives.
What
can we learn about this process from this short parable from Jesus?
1)
Sowing is a work of faith – “A man scatters seed on the ground.” When a person sows a seed, he has done all he
can do. The farmer does not return to the field and dig up the seed to see if
it has germinated. He simply leaves it as a seed sown.
2)
Growing a seed is a work of God. As the sower goes about his daily business
something amazing happens. The earth that appears to be dead suddenly shows
signs of life. A stalk appears. Next a
head. Then a full grown kernel. Finally, fruit!
The sower doesn’t really see the process underground but he realizes it
when the plant begins to appear.
When
the word of God is planted into a human heart, the Spirit of God begins to
cultivate that word. We may not see it immediately but we have to have faith
that the word is producing results. Remember this: there is power in the Word of God. It takes faith to sow the word of God into someone else’s life. Only God can produce fruit.
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