Jesus told a story of a farmer who cast seeds. Some fell on the path and were eaten by birds. Some on rocky ground, springing up fast with shallow roots but withering in the sun. Some fell upon thorny ground where the soil was deep, but weeds choked the wheat. The last was fertile ground where seeds produced 30, 60, 100 times of what was sown. We would all hope to be the latter of the four, but in myself, I see them all.
The field of my heart is surrounded by a path, well worn by years of hard travel. Precious Words of God like “Trust in the Lord with all your heart”, “For I know the plans I have for you”, and “My Grace is sufficient”, though all true, lose their luster when they seem to be the answer to every question. Pain and fatigue make my soul unwilling to hear, and the seed is whisked away.
The rocky area grows wildly when the Holy Spirit blows over, but mountain top experiences fade when there is no root. New growth withers in the heat of battle when it’s time to live what I say I believe.
In thorny patches, the soil is deep, but unattended weeds of sin and doubt yield thistles of “the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth” which “choke the word, making it unfruitful.” Matthew 13:22 This is the “back forty” I spend way too much time plowing.
In the corner nearest the stream, life giving water feeds fertile soul. I have spent time digging straighter furrows and hoeing out weeds (though not as much as I should have). Seeds sprout, even those dormant for many years, and produce good fruit, thirty, sixty or a hundred times as much.
In all of this, three-fourths of the seed appears to be wasted and God knows this about me, yet He continues to sow. Seed scattered on the path may nourish another and that which grows wildly then fades produces seed of its own, cast to the wind for another time and place. These words are certainly fruit of seed planted in the fields of my youth. The task is to till more fields for Him to plant so our efforts may be fruitful, growing strong and bountiful, in the time, place and size of His choosing.
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:8
If these words have been a blessing, pass them along to another who needs to hear. Reach out to me at John@LiftedKeys.com and tell me your story. I would love to know where and in what way God has guided His words through my pen.
Leave a Reply