MEDITATIONS FROM THE PARABLES OF JESUS
THE SOWER
Read Mark 4:1-20
As we read the parable of the sower and its explanation, we are quick to identify people we know with the poor kinds of soil and ourselves with the good ground. But, when we do this, we miss the warning and comfort of this parable for ourselves.
This parable certainly warns against
being like one of the three poor kinds of soil. We may think of ourselves as
the good soil, but how often do we not also fit the descriptions of the poor
ground? Many times we are like the hard ground. The Word of God is sown upon
us, but it doesn't sink in and produce fruit in our lives because we have
either been uninterested or inattentive. Then the Word is snatched away by the
devil. Often we are also like the rocky soil or the thorny ground. In times of
affliction or persecution, we shrink back from a bold and faithful confession
of the truths of God's Word because we have not let that Word sink its roots
deep into our lives. And how often we let the cares of this world, the
deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things in this life keep us
from faithfully hearing and learning God's Word! When we are good soil, we can
take no credit for this. We must say with Jesus that it is a blessing of the
Lord when the Word sinks in, grows, and produces fruit in our lives (Matt.
Almighty God, Thy Word is cast like seed into the ground; now let the dew of heaven descend and righteous fruits abound. Amen. (TLH, Hymn #49, Verse 1)