UNDERSTANDING SOWING THE SEED OF GOD’S WORD
Jesus told a parable about sowing seed; and he told his disciples the meaning of the parable (Luke 8:4-15). He knew that all who would become his true disciples would become sowers of the seed of God’s Word (Mark 16:15-16).
THE LORD SAID, THIS IS THE MEANING OF THE PARABLE:
The seed is the Word of God: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Some seed fall along the path. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
Some seed fall on rocky ground. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.
Some seed fall among thorns. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
Some seed land on good ground. The seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORD AND RETAIN IT DO THE FOLLOWING THINGS:
- Repent, believe in the only begotten Son of God and are saved from their sins; and they become born again of the Spirit of God (John 3:16-17).
- Produce fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8).
- With the help of the Holy Spirit, they can produce fruit of the Spirit: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
- With the help of the Spirit, love and obey the Lord’s commands (John 14:15-17).
- Grow in becoming more and more like the Son of God (Romans 8:29).
THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORD AND RETAIN IT ARE ALSO WILLING TO DO THESE THINGS:
- As the Lord commands, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15:16; Acts 1:8).
- Depend on the Holy Spirit, who knows the hearts of those who hear the Word, to draw people to the Lord by applying the gospel of Jesus Christ (John 16:8-9).
- Do the work of God while they can, in the time he has given them to live in this world (John 9:4; 2 Corinthians 6:2)
- Recognize that God sees what you do, even if people do not notice, and “he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people” (Hebrews 6L10)
Our Lord and Savior assures you that whatever you do for him and the ones he loves—obeying him, sowing seed, loving him and others–you will receive a hundred times its value in this world–and in the age to come eternal life in heaven with God (Mark 10:30; John 14:3).
