Matthew 13:1-9
It is the same day that Jesus’ mother and brothers came
looking for him he went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And the Scriptures tell us that a great crowd
gathered about Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the crowd stood on
the beach. And Matthew tells us that
Jesus told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out
to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path,
and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell
on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang
up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun
rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.
Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and
choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced
grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He
who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 1:3-9)
One
of my hobbies for many years has been gardening, and I’ve learned many bought
lessons, some more than once, but this truth always is important, if you desire
is to grow vegetables you must have good soil. Jesus, being the Creator, could give us lessons
on “how to do” everything, but that is not the intent of this parable. In the culture, at the time Jesus is
speaking, most people would have an understanding of farming the land, and
maybe that is why they did not understand the meaning of this story.
If
we skip a few verses, Jesus gives the key to His disciples about what is being
said, and the crowd went away with little understanding. Could that be the trouble in churches where
the Spirit is speaking today? Was the
crowd looking for entertainment, let’s face the truth, Jesus was doing some
amazing things and news was spreading an even the leaders were watching; what
would He do next? Is that not happening
in many churches today, some are trying to out do the world, and they often are
referred to as seeker churches, and to those who are being lead by the Spirit,
that’s a good thing; for God is making the soil good to open the hearts of the
seekers. But some seem to be in the
performance business, and are just drawing people who will go home with poorly
prepared soil for the seed to fall on; it is hard to compete with the world,
they like more whistles and balloons. Another
group who was there not to be entertained, but to make sure that the traditions
and the rules of their religion were observed above all else, even with the
healing of one who was lame from birth, or blind. I bet you have those same folks in your
church today, they are the “we have never done it that way before.” And another group that is still around is,
“the what is in it for me ” and it may refer to how they are seen in the business
world, the neighborhood, or could it be that many of their friends are in the
crowd (church).
God
knows the soil you live in, He alone sees past our actions an into our heart,
and that is why you and I who are sinners that have been redeemed by the blood
of Jesus Christ and His grace, should never judge our neighbor but love them
and share the good news of what Jesus has done for us. Always remember the Spirit will give you the
words you need when you are asked, why you believe in Jesus? You also would be wise to understand and have
the Spirit make clear in your mind and heart, John 10:10, so that you convey to
the one you are sharing with that God is good and in Him there is no evil.
From
the Back Porch,
Bob
Rice
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