We must SOW the ‘SEED’ of GOD’s WORD in other people!
October
18 Bible Reading: Mark Chapters 4-6
We must SOW the ‘SEED’ of GOD’s WORD in other people!
"The kingdom of God is as if a man
should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day,
and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the
earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the
full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the
sickle, because the harvest has come." (Mark 4:26-29)
This
parable is unique to the Gospel of Mark
and teaches us the supernatural character of God’s kingdom in the lives of
people during the entire stretch (from sowing to reaping). Even after two
thousand years when Jesus spoke these words, we still do not fully understand
how seed germinates and grows into a fully developed plant. In the similar
manner, God’s kingdom is growing even though we do not fully understand all
that is happening. However, what we can understand is that humans are
responsible for sowing the kingdom message but only God can produce the desired effects. In the final analysis, the growth of God’s Kingdom is entirely the work
of God alone!
This
parable may be intended to encourage
the disciples whose responsibility is to sow the seeds of God’s Word. It is
through a mysterious and miraculous process that God’s Word will work in human
hearts and produce the desired harvest (fruit) for God. When the grain is ripe,
abundant crop that generates great joy can be harvested. In fact, the sowing of
the seed of God’s Word is not expected to be easy, as we see the words of the
Psalmist: "Those who sow in tears
shall reap in joy. He, who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for
sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with
him." (Psalms 126:5-6)
The
point of this parable is that God causes the gospel to bear fruit and His
kingdom to grow. Just how He does these things we do not fully understand. By
its very nature the kingdom will succeed because God alone is responsible for
its success. In contrast with other parables that stressed either the beginning
or the consummation of the kingdom, this parable highlights the active though
invisible growth of the kingdom of God.
It
is our job to sow the seed of God’s Word, and then God will make that seed
germinate and produce an abundant harvest. Even a busy farmer must sleep and
let God work! However, when the harvest is ready we must be alert and reap it (see
John 4:35–38). We may think that our word or deed is very small, and what we
speak hardly counts at all. Remember, God can take that seed that we have sown
and nourish it until it is fully grown and has produced the intended harvest. Pray fervently and sow the seed of God’s Word faithfully so that it will produce its
desired fruit one day!
