February 19 Seeds and Soil

Photo by Cody Davenport

Leviticus 7:28-9:6;  Mark 3:31-4:25;  Psalm 37:12-29;  Proverbs 10:5

“And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable?  How then will you understand all the parables?  The sower sows the word.  And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan  immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.  And these are the ones sown on rocky ground:  the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy.  And they have no root in themselves, but endure for awhile;  then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.  And others are the ones sown among thorns.  They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.  But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”  Mark 4:13-20

Lord, at times my heart has been like the well worn path and your word bounced right off, to no effect.  At other times, I’ve been excited by your truths, but lost interest when the newness wore off.  And there have been times when your word failed to thrive because worries about health, family and finances put the squeeze on my faith.  Your grace, O Lord, saved me during those times.  You continued to sow your word in my heart.  Through the forgiveness of my sins and the working of the Holy Spirit, you softened my heart where your word could then take root and grow and bear fruit.  Thank you for being my constant gardener.  May my life bear much fruit for your kingdom–“that all the doings in my life may please you.”  For Jesus’ sake I pray.  Amen