ROOTED FOR LIFE Part II

Same Gospel seed. Different results.

Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matt. 13:3-9)

To begin it is important that we understand that …DISCIPLESHIP IS THE WORK OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST. This parable begins like every day begins for believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are all redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ to glorify God and proclaim the good news of the gospel. We are all the sowers who go out to sow the seed of the gospel in the hearts and lives of those around us.

There are many interesting spiritual truths in this parable and all are worthy of exploration. Something you might have missed in the study of this passage is this great spiritual truth…

The seed of the gospel springs up wherever it is planted!

 But what about the ones along the wayside that the birds devoured? Have you ever gone out to your back yard at springtime and found it full of weeds? You say to yourself, I don’t remember planting these weeds. Then you hear the birds in the trees and notice some bird droppings. Seeds were in those droppings and now they are enjoying new life in your yard.

You can kill the bird but you can’t kill the seed!

The seed survives and in many cases thrive. There was an actual study on this by a real University using our tax dollars. The finding was… Get ready for it…

“seeds that are pooped by birds grow better”

The seed that fell by the wayside often gets replanted by birds or other creatures, the seed on stony ground springs up but struggles to survive because it does not have deep roots and the seed that fell among thorns started to grow but was crushed by the thorns. Finally the seed that fell on good ground it grew and endured. Everywhere the seed fell it eventually sprouted. What does that tell us about the gospel. The gospel shared produces results and that is why we must, like the sower, go out each day to spread the seed of the gospel.

Knowing that the gospel seed will always spring up gives us great confidence to go forward in the mission as a sower. More good news… Rocky ground can become good ground by the work of the Holy Spirit through discipleship in a willing heart. Thorny ground and be cleared and good seed can grow. Even seed that falls on the wayside can be carried to an eager heart and produce.