Impacting Lives
Farmer Scattering Seed (Luke 8)
Hey guys,
Just want to see where we identify ourselves in this parable. I hope to be the good soil but know that I can also get bogged down by the thorns.
We all want to be the good soil but perhaps struggle in one area or another mentioned by Jesus here. As we seek to grow, which area do we need to grow in and how can we do our part while allowing God to do His part.
Luke 8:4-15
4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. 6 Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown."
When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,
"'though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.'
11 "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
NIV
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Britney Turner on -
I really liked reading this again in this NIV version, especially 11-15. I can reflect back in my life and I see myself in each of these environments at different times in my life, and I can see that most of it is dependent on what choices I make and what I lean on during tough circumstances. The people that we are connecting with are one of these types of seeds right now, and so are we as a church. I will definitely be thinking about these verses this week. Thanks Keith!
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Permalink Reply by Amanda Bates on -
I have always found this parable to be interesting. However, I will admit that I have always thought about it as referring to ones decision for Christ and salvation. Thus, your idea of it applying to us throughout our walk is intersting. :) Honestly, there are some areas in my life right now that feel like the thorns are growing up and choking out God's word. Sometimes that is as simple of getting too busy to actually be the person God is calling me to be, other times it is the surrounding circumstances that discourage the Word in my life.....
hmmmm.... I need to think and pray about this more.
Lord, remove the distractions in my life that choke out your work and word in my life. Open my eyes to the ways of the evil one. Increase my focus on your truth and desire for my life. And give me the discernment to pull out the weeds that are choking out your truth in my life and those around me.
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Permalink Reply by Jacob Pflug on -
Amanda and Britney:
You guys bring up good points, which I really have never thought of these as an issue of modality. I, like Amanda, have really only read this as a finality of where the heart goes--not as it is going. I feel as though i am am pushing through both the rocks and the thorns. The questions that I have for myself form this passage are: Do I have the faith to last a little testing? Also, as I stand for those who hear, will i be choked out by all the life worries that surround me? I want to be noble, have a good heart, and produce... I believe that this boils down to character.
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Permalink Reply by Keith Jaroslow on -
Like many things in life, what we say is important and what we choose to give importance can be two different things. I say that God is the most important thing in my life but, unfortunately, it is very easy to get distracted by the thorns and to make them out to be larger than they are.
Lord, I pray that you always help me to remember that in the grand scheme of things You are eternal and the thorns and stones are VERY temporary.
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