Feb 21 – Mark 4:1-20

 

Janice Kobb

 On the surface, this parable is a simple lesson about how our hearts need to be good and fertile soil so that we can accept Christ as our  Savior and live as God wants us to live. We need to make sure (vs. 17) we don’t turn away from God when we face trouble or persecution or ridicule. We also need to (vs. 19) avoid worrying, chasing after money, or be enticed into acquiring more and more possessions.

 

But upon closer study, Jesus’ quote (vs. 12) of Isaiah 6:9 & 10 bothered me. If the people hearing Jesus were “ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding,” what was the point of Jesus’ preaching? So I looked back and found that this quote was from the words God spoke to Isaiah when God sent Isaiah to warn the Jews that they had turned away from God and were on the brink of punishment and destruction. But God also encouraged Isaiah later in  Isaiah 6:13  saying that a tenth of the people would be a “holy seed” of faithful believers. A remnant would survive. A remnant would listen to Isaiah and turn to God. So, facing a 90% failure rate ahead, was it worth Isaiah’s time to go and preach?  Absolutely!  Is it worth our time to “sow seeds”? Absolutely! As the Apostle Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

 

So, what I found important in this passage was that God needs “farmers to sow the word” (vs. 14). The farmer will do his best to plant in the most fertile soil, but his primary job is to sow the seeds (“the Word”, Jesus explains). The famer is not afraid of planting. It’s what he does.  He doesn’t fret over the seed that falls on the path, the rocks, or in the thorns. The famer puts the seed out there.  The seeds will grow and a harvest will happen. Likewise, God’s Word will grow and bring a harvest in the lives of those who will accept it.

 

From all of this, these questions came to my mind, and I wondered:

How do I receive the words of God?

Is my heart open to hear God?

Do I know the words of God well enough to share them with others?

Am I willing to share God’s words with others?

 

We pray:

Lord, forgive my laziness in knowing Your words and my fear of sharing Your words with others.  Help me be more diligent in my studies and to be more open and willing to share all the benefits that come from       believing and trusting in You as God the Father, Jesus the Christ and Your work through the Holy Spirit.  Amen.


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