Planting for the Harvest
“Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Devotional:
In this Parable of the Sower, we see that only 25% of the sees that are plants land on fertile ground. This parable is used as an example of how people respond to hearing the truth about Jesus. 25% can feel pretty discouraging, but Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:8 that some will plant, some will water, but God is the one who will grow. Therefore, remove any pressure you feel because it is not your job to convict or convince (that is the Holy Spirit!), it is simply your job to share and give someone the opportunity to experience the love of God the same way you have! Our success is based on our obedience to God in sharing the good news, not on how the other person responds. What a relief!
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you with your fear or doubt that may come when sharing the gospel with people around you.
Reflection and Response:
Prayer is a how we toil the soil to create a fertile ground. Pray for two people in your life so that the seeds you plant will fall on fertile ground. Write their names down somewhere so you can remember to pray for them daily.
