Jesus began to teach by the lake… “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. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” (Mark 4:1-9 NIV)
Father God, yesterday I tried to have a conversation with someone about important topics. In the midst of the conversation I thought it went well, but later I found out what I tried to say wasn’t heard at all the way I intended.
Yes, Child. I know the feeling.
What do I do?
Keep loving them. Keep praying for them. The path they are on isn’t bad and your hopes for them aren’t bad either. But it takes time for my good purposes to come to fruition.
I know. I’m sorry I’m impatient.
That’s ok; you’re learning and growing, too. What does this remind you of in the Bible?
The story of the four soils.
Yes. Usually you hear about how the seed was robbed or choked away because of the soil. Only the seed on the good soil sprouts to produce a crop. But go back to the beginning of the story.
Jesus taught the crowd?
Next verse.
The farmer went out to sow his seed…
Yep. The farmer was faithful to do what I’d called him to do – plant physical seeds. You were faithful to do what I called you to do – plant spiritual seeds. Now trust me to help those seeds grow in the right soil at the right time. I am the Creator and I love that person even more than you do.
I know.
You keep planting seeds of love, encouragement, and lots of prayer. Trust me for the crop.
Ok, Lord. Thank you for your patience with me.
Thank you for your love for this child that I love.
AMEN.
Creating God,
We delight and rejoice greatly in your salvation and righteousness. We give thanks for the ways in which you call spiritual “farmers” to sow “seeds” of your Way, Truth, and Life in others. Give us courage to plant the seeds you need planted, no matter the immediate response. Protect those spiritual seeds from being stolen, burned, or choked by the enemy or the world. Bring to fruition your spiritual crops of grace, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control, and hope. May we never tire or be discouraged from helping others to find the fullness and power of Life in Christ, we ask in his name, AMEN.
I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness
and praise spring up before all nations. (Isaiah 61:10-11 NIV)
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV)