S. Mark 4:1-8 (NIV)
Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”
O. The farmer sows his seed and it is received (as Jesus taught) in various way by the people who’s hearts are likened to soil conditions. For some, Satan comes in and takes away the seed. For another, the seed never takes root (v. 16), for others the worries of life choke out the seed (v.18) and finally others have good soil and the seed produces excellent growth.
The parable is Jesus’ way of teaching how the Gospel is received by others, according to the conditions of their hearts. In this parable, I see that there is a 25% “success” rate of the seed reaching good soil and being productive (which means 75% of the time, it does not grow). Regardless of the reception, the farmer sows. He doesn’t know which seed will be productive, so he faithfully continues to sow the seed regardless of the outcome.
A. Regardless of how people respond, we are to sow the seed of the Gospel of Jesus. We should pray that the soil conditions of the hearts of people will be prepared to receive the word. We must not allow the responses of people to dictate how or when we plant the seed of the Gospel.
P. Thank you Father for your word today. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to consistently share the Gospel of Jesus Christ regardless of the outcome. I do pray that you will prepare people’s hearts that the “seed” might take root and produce positive, eternal results. In Jesus’ name!
