1/20/2019
You have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, and received the seed of your faith, so if we view your faith as we would a seed, have you sown it in good soil, or amongst the thorns? Have you taken care and gently placed it in rich soil, and watered it with the Word of God, or cast it in the thorns of a worldly life, and sprinkled it with man’s deceit and wealth?
“As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."”
Matthew 13:22-23 ESV
In all the earth 37.7 % of the surface is considered agricultural land, or suitable for grazing and planting, but only 10.6 % is considered suitable for plowing, and planting crops. So if we look at our faith there is an 89.4% chance that if our Seed is simply sown across the earth that it would by chance find itself on good soil. The seed of our Faith must be carefully planted and tended to in order for us to reap the benefits of it, and the better the soil in which it is planted, and tended, the greater the yield will be.
So how do you choose to plant your seed of faith and life? Do you look at the prolific weeds that grow just about anywhere they are dropped, and say to yourself “this must be good Land”, or do you find the wheat, fruit trees, and the vineyards of the Lord, and say “Here is where my seed can bear fruit?” Weeds and thorns can grow widely, but God’s fruit requires good soil, and a gardener’s hand. Are you taking care in choosing where you will push your finger into the ground and drop your seed? Will you pull up the weeds that attempt to encroach upon it, and water it carefully with the Word of God, and till it with the Gospel of Jesus? Is your wisdom and knowledge aided by the understanding of the Holy Spirit?
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.”
Psalms 119:36-37 ESV
We can be a lazy lot, and even though our intentions are good in the beginning, our follow-through is often lacking. We plant our seed with care, but walk away from it, and let the drought and the thorns choke it out. The world and its ways finds little value for the seed of faith, and eternal life... they are designed to minister to the greater masses of weeds and thorns... and to look upon them as beautiful, even though they bear little fruit, and water themselves with their sinful tears.
“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
1 Timothy 4:7-8 ESV
We come to God weeping tears of worldly sorrow, but when we hand them to the Lord, He dries them, turns them to joy, and places them in a bottle where they are counted to our good on the day of judgement.
“You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?”
Psalms 56:8 ESV
So even though we might sow in sadness, and cry the tears of a broken world, God turns them into the fruit of a life well lived, and the bounty of a faith planted and nurtured in His good garden.
“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Psalms 126:5-6 ESV
How we choose the ground for our faithful planting, and how we till and water it with the understanding of God’s Word, and the hoe that is the gospel of Jesus, determines much. Are you being diligent in your garden, or casting your seed upon the earth in fruitless hope?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the seeds of faith that you have placed in my care, and the diligence and determination with which I have chosen to plant and tend them. Help me Holy Father as I turn away from the ways of the world, and enter into your garden where your Word becomes the dew that waters me, and the gospel of Jesus the hoe that loosens the soil about me to remove the weeds, and allow your precious water to easily reach my waiting roots. Find pleasure in me Father, and grow strong on the fruit of my vine as it finds its way to your table. This fruit is to your glory, and the bounty of your table shouts your Name for all the world to hear. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God of the garden; my god of the planting, the dew, the rain, the weeding, the pruning, and harvest. Praised be your name above all others, and great are you who brings fruit from us... though we were once nothing but tiny seeds. Lead us Father in this our season.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 ESV
Rich Forbes