The account in the Gospels of Jesus’ teaching the parable of the sower is sometimes misunderstood. The purpose in discussing the various problems individuals will face as they try to enter into the kingdom of God is to let us know what we need to be prepared to combat.
The passage in no way suggests that we leave these situations and allow the people facing these problems to perish.
The passage ends with the declaration “he that hath an ear to hear, let him hear.” That means pay attention and understand!
What do we need too understand? That we are to be proactive in helping to remedy these problems as they arise. We need to be actively working months after the altar call as much as we do during the salvation process.
The parable is an instruction to become a “gardener.” If the weeds are choking the plants, get out the hoe.
If the birds are snatching away the seed before it can germinate, build a scarecrow.
If the plant has shallow roots, put in support rods and keep the plant watered frequently until they can take hold.
Last Sunday, my teacher spoke about friendship. It was the perfect introduction to discipleship. We must become the friends of those who are trying to find the kingdom of God as their home.
Friendship is not like any other relationship. Other relationships begin without your knowing of the existence of the relationship. Romance, family and any other benevolent situation is not quite like friendship.
You chose to be a friend.
It takes a lot of work. It takes thinking about it. It takes faith that your effort will improve the circumstances and behavior of another person. Friendship is about others.
While this is a simplification, the result is the same for any situation of friendship. It is a selfless act.
So, why not choose to be a friend to a newly repentant person who has been missing from the kingdom?
They can really use a good friend.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
The Parable of the Sower
Luk 8:6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
Luk 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
"…And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."
Every person that walks through the church doors is a potential plant that will bring forth fruit; every person.
Each one of these persons who commits their life to God at an altar of repentance has found the living water, yet many perish. The Word is there, but it fails to sustain them.
For a while they believe but eventually something comes along and destroys their belief. This passage of scripture says that it is a lack of moisture because there is no root to bring moisture into the stem.
What is responsible for this lack of moisture? Is it not true that all persons who come to God initially have no roots?
The other parts of this parable point out the difficulties that one can face. Satan steals the Word before it can take hold in the heart. Some are lost because the cares of this life choke it out. Do we just let them die?
What is it that we need to hear in this parable?
We need to become “gardeners”
We can weed a garden. We can pray a wall of protection and an environment of worship for the ones the enemy tries to steal away the Word.
A plant that has no root system requires frequent watering and protection from extreme sunlight and wind until a root system develops.
That new convert is about to walk out of the building and into the wind and bright sunshine.
They are about to be inundated by torrential rains of information tugging at them from friends who think they have gone crazy, and convince them so, to acquaintances who want them to buy more drugs, all right outside the walls of the building. Old habits that held them before are waiting to jump back into their lives
What will protect them from the rain, the wind, the harsh sunlight until they can have a root system that will hold them on their own?
You.
Become part of the close-by network that provides constant moisture. Part of the strong roots nearby that holds them up. Join yourself to the new ones, wherever you are.
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Luk 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
"…And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."
Every person that walks through the church doors is a potential plant that will bring forth fruit; every person.
Each one of these persons who commits their life to God at an altar of repentance has found the living water, yet many perish. The Word is there, but it fails to sustain them.
For a while they believe but eventually something comes along and destroys their belief. This passage of scripture says that it is a lack of moisture because there is no root to bring moisture into the stem.
What is responsible for this lack of moisture? Is it not true that all persons who come to God initially have no roots?
The other parts of this parable point out the difficulties that one can face. Satan steals the Word before it can take hold in the heart. Some are lost because the cares of this life choke it out. Do we just let them die?
What is it that we need to hear in this parable?
We need to become “gardeners”
We can weed a garden. We can pray a wall of protection and an environment of worship for the ones the enemy tries to steal away the Word.
A plant that has no root system requires frequent watering and protection from extreme sunlight and wind until a root system develops.
That new convert is about to walk out of the building and into the wind and bright sunshine.
They are about to be inundated by torrential rains of information tugging at them from friends who think they have gone crazy, and convince them so, to acquaintances who want them to buy more drugs, all right outside the walls of the building. Old habits that held them before are waiting to jump back into their lives
What will protect them from the rain, the wind, the harsh sunlight until they can have a root system that will hold them on their own?
You.
Become part of the close-by network that provides constant moisture. Part of the strong roots nearby that holds them up. Join yourself to the new ones, wherever you are.
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
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