The Seed is the Word of God

The Seed is the Word of God

“What the sower is sowing is he word.  Those on the edge of the path where the word is sown are people who have no sooner heard it than satan comes and carries away the word that was sown in them.  Similarly, those who receive the seed on patches of rock are people who, when first they hear the word, welcome it at once with joy.  But they have no root in them, they do not last; should some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, they fall away at once.  Then there are others who receive the seed in thorns.  These have heard the word, but the worries of this world, the lure of riches and all the other passions come in to choke the word, and so it produces nothing.  And there are those who have received the seed in rich soil:  they hear the word and accept it and yield a harvest, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”  (Mar 4: 15 – 20)

This is one of my favorite parables in the Gospel.  I see the lessons of the parable so true in myself and in other people in the Body of Christ.  For me the core message is that where you are when the word of God comes to you may determine your response and eternal destiny.  

The first group in the parable lives “on the edge of the path.”  They exist in physical and psychological environment that gives no chance to the word.  The demonic influences in their environment are simply overwhelming.  What can they do?  Seek help and move out of the environment.

The second group lives “on patches of rock.”  These are very shallow people.  The reason why “they have no root in them” is because they have no understanding of the word that they heard.  What can they do?  They need to hear the word again and again and study it in order to gain some understanding of the message.

The third group lives “in thorns.”  The people in this group are still very much in love with the world.  They hear the word and like it and believe that the word can help them to get more out of this world.  What can they do?  Scripture advices us:  “Do not conform to the world.”  We need the word of God to renew our minds.

The last group was ready for the word when they heard it.  They accept it and put it into practice in their life and the word transforms them.  They yield rich harvest.