The Sower

Luke 8:4-15

This parable is one which definitely speaks to me. I wonder if it speaks to others in such a vivid way. One reason I like it is that the community I live in has a lot of farming around it. Another reason is that my dad could make anything grow…whether it happened to be flowers or vegetables. However, he did what many people do not do when they plant seeds. He nurtured them throughout the growing season. And he always had a good crop. It was fun to watch his success year after year.

On the flip side of the coin is a person like me. I cannot get anything to grow. People have given me very hardy plants as well as instructions. No matter how hard I try to keep the plants alive, they die…every time. I love flowers and plants, but they seem not to like me. Now, I will admit that I am also violently allergic to many of them. Perhaps they realize this and so they fail to thrive.

I think many of us have been at various points along the path which Jesus describes in His parable. At some times in our lives we are like the seeds that are scattered in the various environments. At least my life has been that way. At times the Word has fallen on deaf ears, at other times I have heard but not listened; at still other times the Word is choked out of me; and there are those wonderful times when I hear and understand the Word and flourish.

We all need to remember what it feels like when we flourish so that if we experience miserable times, and we will, we remember how to return to flourishing instead of having our faith fail to thrive.

We need to pray that God will keep us fertile soil for His Word. We need to listen for the presence of Jesus in our lives. We can know that He is with us if we are quiet and pay attention.

Carol

Bible Breath: The seed is / The Word of God