Good Seed

Mark 4:14 "The sower sows the word." ESV

 

For some reason, as I am reading through the book of Mark and I keep coming back to this (at least for the last four days). In this chapter, Jesus is teaching people in parables. He gives them three: The parable of the sower, the parable of the seed, and the parable of the mustard seed. The similarity between these stories is threefold. First, it is seed that is being sown. Each time seed is being scattered. Second, the seed that is scatter produces. In the first parable when the seed is sown on good ground it produces fruit. In the second parable of the seed, the farmer sows it and goes to bed and when he gets up in the morning the seed has sprouted and he really does not understand how that happens. In the third parable the mustard seed is planted and it grows into a large tree. In all three parables there is seed. In all three parables there is growth. Finally, in all three parables there is fruit.

 

The thing is, it all starts with the seed. Nothing happens unless good seed is planted. And what is the good seed? The word of God. It is only the sowing of the word of God that produces fruit. It is only the sowing of the word of God that produces a crop. It is only the sowing of the word of God that produces a tree. It is only the sowing of the word of God that expands the kingdom of God. Nothing else does it. Programs don't do it. Policies don't do it. Promotions don't do it. PR doesn't do it. Only the word of God. And the wise sower scatters the word of God.

 

This is important in churches. We have to be sowing God's word. Like the farmer, we don't know how it grows, but it does and we can watch it happen. We don't understand how it expands, but it does and we can be amazed when we see the results. "so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Is 55:11 It is only sowing the word of God that will impact people's lives.

 

This isn't just important for churches, it is important for life. It is important when I talk to people. They may come up with fancy arguments. Give them the word. They may talk about excuses. Give them the word. They may marginalize. Give them the word.

 

And for me…I have to stay in the word. It is the only thing that is going to bring results in me. Books are nice. Devotionals are nice. They are all helpful…but the word of God is the seed that will bring about fruit, that will bring about a crop, that will grow into a tree.

 

Stay in it. Use it. Proclaim it.