“A farmer went out to sow,” Jesus says. You can visualize the farmer in the field. “As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.” He’s just tossing the seed here, not digging holes or covering the seeds with dirt. The seeds hit the path and are plucked up by the birds. He keeps sowing.
“Some [seed] 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.” The farmer doesn’t seem to care where the seed is going, throwing it on completely rocky ground and, not surprisingly, the seedlings get scorched by the heat. He keeps sowing.
“Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.” Wouldn’t a farmer know not to plant flowers in thorn bushes? He keeps sowing.
“Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop” (Matthew 13:3-8). Finally, a few seeds manage to drop in good soil and the farmer gets a crop.
Doesn’t the farmer strike you as a bit careless here? He’s throwing seed everywhere, apparently certain that there will be a harvest somewhere in spite of some seeds not making it.
He just keeps throwing and sowing, sowing and throwing, believing that growth will come. Somewhere. Anywhere. Even, possibly, in the thorny soil, the rocky soil, or could a seed tossed on the beaten path somehow find a crack and grow? The farmer believes so! He’s leaving no soil without seed.
And so in this farmer we see Jesus. Jesus keeps sowing the word of the kingdom of God, even though it lands on the hard-hearted, those whose faith life is rocky and rugged, busy believers with so much going on in our lives that it is choking out the word like weeds, and of course those whose ears and hearts are open, receptive, and fertile for God’s Word.
Jesus just keeps throwing and sowing, sowing and throwing, believing that growth will come. Somewhere. Anywhere. Farmer Jesus believes so. He’s leaving no soil without seed. No person without his saving word.
So, let’s be followers of Jesus as resourceful as Jesus.
What does it take for people in your neighborhood or building or classroom or family to hear the words of Jesus? Jesus’ words aren’t magic beans. They don’t plant themselves.
Instead of thinking nice thoughts about sowing the seeds of Jesus’ saving words, instead of hoping that more people come to church and believe in Jesus, what does it look like for you to be as resourceful as Jesus?
Another invitation to church. Liking and sharing on social media when your pastor posts a devotion or prayer.
Teaching in children’s ministry. Greeting on Sundays.
Giving regularly so that your church can afford to meet industry standards of excellence for a website and marketing.
Working your schedule around busy activities to attend small group.
Getting to bed early enough to get up the next morning early enough to read the Bible and pray for your friends who need Jesus—then go out and actually plant the seeds.
It’s hard work, just like Jesus does for you.
PRAYER: Jesus, sometimes I feel like my faith is the hard path. Stubborn. Other times it’s rocky soil. Cluttered. Still, other times, it’s full of weeds. Distractions deceptively choking my joy, peace and faith. Keep sowing the seeds of your words in me. I know they will help me grow. Amen.
SPIRITUAL NEXT STEP: Name 3 people in your life who need Jesus, and need to hear more of his words today. Say a prayer 1) for them, and 2) for you to plant those seeds today.