Surface Seeds

“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Mark 4:3-4

The impatiens in our story yesterday are comfortable. They fit in. Each flower is one of the crowd, like the seasoned parishioner sitting in the same pew, year after year. A little bit of church, a Sunday smile, a Scripture heard and forgotten on the way out the door. The scattered seeds of faith are never germinated.

       

A tug of emotion may hit our hearts a time or two, but the Bible? Satan loves it when we disregard the Word of God. “it is out-dated.” “The Old Testament is too violent.” “I know Jesus loves me and that’s all I need.” We’ve heard all of the excuses.The lies of Satan go way back to the garden, when he placed the first doubt in Eve’s mind; "Did God really say...?" 

The Word is God’s love story written just for you. As you read the Word, the Word reads you. It is life-changing, true, and it will mold you and me into the image of Christ. Jesus explains the Scripture verses above.

The farmer sows the Word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.  Mark 4:14-15

Take a chance on leaving the safe corner of the garden where nothing changes and nothing is expected. Let the Great Gardener grow you with the seeds of His Word. Let His green thumb sow those seeds until you stand out, different from the usual crowd. There is not much excitement or adventure in the corner, in the shade. Allow God’s light to penetrate a little deeper today. You may have to squint in the bright light for awhile. Adjusting to the Son is glorious work, not to mention the warm glow from within. Step out into the light.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 3:16-17

Dear Jesus,

Take away our fear of the Word. It is God-breathed. Open our eyes and ears to see and hear. Open our hearts and minds to savor and understand all. Let the seeds be planted deep in good and fertile soil

Amen