Today we conclude our look at Jesus’ story of “the sower,” a
parable that tells about how God’s kingdom works. The seeds are God’s Word – the ground is us,
our hearts – the Sower is the Spirit of God.
Jesus unfolds the parable’s problems, showing us what keeps us from
being all God promised us we could be.
In part one; we saw there is a problem of hardness when the
seed of God’s Word falls on a hard, unwilling heart. The Proverb writer called that person a
fool. Proverbs 29:14:1
Yesterday we considered the problem of shallowness when the
seed germinates, but the believer has thin-skin, an undeveloped sense of commitment
to Christ. When that happens there is little
to protect against shriveling up in the harsh environment of this world’s persecution
of Christ and the church.
Now consider:
THE PROBLEM OF UNCLEANNESS
The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s
word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this
life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.
Weeds are a problem when you're trying to
raise any crop. This third example of an
improperly managed field depicts a caring, but contaminated heart.
This is the heart that is interested in the
kingdom, but WON'T cut-off the things that compete for his heart's attention.
Jesus said that it would be better to enter
the kingdom without hands or eyes, rather than keep those limbs and miss the
kingdom. The world and all its wealth,
excitement and diversions clamor for your attention. Whatever keeps you from serving God in a pure
manner is the thorn that Jesus said is a problem.
For the believer it is generally a secret
sin of some sort that keeps us from living up to our spiritual potential. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was executed by the Nazis
because of his testimony for Christ.
Before he died he made the statement, "When Christ calls a man, He
bids him come and die."
The problems with allowing ANYTHING to take
precedence over Jesus, is that if we love anything more than Jesus, we don't
love Jesus.
Hard hearts, Shallow hearts, Unclean
hearts...Each of us has been this way.
We have all rejected Him in some way.
Once again the truth is there, there is none righteous, no not one. We have all sinned and come short of the
glory of God.[1]
God’s desire for us is to be good soil.
We can resolve this day to change.
It doesn't have to stay the old way.
Today….Resolve…
...... to Prepare the soil.
Confess Jesus openly.
...... to Receive the seed.
Soften the rocky soil with obedience to the Word of God.
...... to Begin the service.
Send the roots deep.
...... to
Watch the miracle. Watch God at work in your life, as He shows you
that all His promises are true and yours in Jesus.
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