The Battle for the Seed

Thursday, December 8, 2011

 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. 4 As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. 5 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. 7Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” 9 Then he said,“Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. 15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. 16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. 20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Mark 4:3-9;14-20 (New Living Translation)


This is a parable that I've heard all my life but it came to light once again last night. I was experiencing a bit of fear and I was reminded not to let the birds take away the seeds that were planted in my life (see verse 4). This morning I went back and read it and it dawned on me that 4 things happen when we hear the Word of God: Satan snatches it away; a shallow character makes it dry up; stress & anxiety choke it to death OR it produces massive harvests of 30, 60 or 100 times more of what was planted. Every time the Word of God goes forth this battle starts. We all want to have the "good ground" kind of heart but boy do we struggle living in this world! We all have worries, we all have the temptation to receive it with joy and forget about it because of anxiety. One thing is for sure: God's Word is true and it always works (Isaiah 55:11). The choice is always mine as far as how I'm going to care for this seed: will I leave it vulnerable to birds? Will I not cultivate my character? Will I let stress choke it? OR will I water it and nurture it so the harvest will be massive? The choice is up to me.
Ryann Roth said...

Thanks for the reminder Cintia! You know what, just as Satan goes to battle to prevent God's word from planting roots in our hearts, God and all his legions go to battle to prevent the lies of the Enemy from planting roots in our hearts. May God be our seed snatcher, and protect us from nurturing the wrong seed!- Ryann

Rachelle Wooten said...

What a great reminder to nurture the Word of God! Yesterday, I almost got my "seed snatched"! A colleague was frustrated before I came to see her and then she fussed at me when I arrived! I had a choice to make: give her a piece of my mind or stay in my "righteous" mind. I chose my "righteous" mind but it wasn't easy! ;)