The Sower Military Wives Fellowship Podcast

The Sower Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23 (ESV)

Spring time is pretty much here in Northern California and I have started my gardening. As preparation for Spring my husband and I laid out some grass seeds. We have a large area on the side of our house that the kids often play games or we will gather for a neighborhood BBQ. We laid the seed in hopes to have a beautiful field of lush grass for our neighborhood activities.

We laid the seed one day. The next day the birds had came and started taking the seeds. Then another day we learn that the housing office has planned to spray the grass for weeds.

All I could think is the birds are stealing the seeds and now housing is going to spray for weeds and kill what is left of the newly laid grass seeds.

This got me thinking of a parable Jesus told. If you have your Bibles turn to Matthew chapter 13 verses1-9 and verses 18-23.

It says,

"That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”

Skip a few verses and Jesus explains the parable of the Sower:

Starting in verse 18.

“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (Matthew 13:18-23 ESV)

The one thing that stands out to me in these scriptures is the Sower. The sower is not responsible for which seeds take root and which seeds do not. The sower's job is to throw out the seeds. As Christians we are called to share the Good News of Christ. The Good News is the Gospel message. "Christ died for our sins... he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).

1 Corinthians 3:7 says, "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth."

As you go out and share your faith with the world remember it is not your responsibility to "give growth" but it is your responsibility to plant seeds. Step out today and share your faith with others. Then let God do the rest.

Until next time keep planting seeds.

From one military wife to another.