“People kept coming to Jesus from one town after another; and when a great crowd gathered, Jesus told this parable: ‘Once there was a man who went out to sow grain. As he scattered the seed in the field, some of it fell along the path, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it up. Some of it fell on rocky ground, and when the plants sprouted, they dried up because the soil had no moisture. Some of the seed fell among thorn bushes, which grew up with the plants and choked them. And some seeds fell in good soil; the plants grew and bore grain, one hundred grains each.’ And Jesus concluded, ‘Listen, then, if you have ears!’” (Luke 8:4-8 GNT)
This is your Monday Short meditation. Good news! Not only will you benefit from reading and/or revisiting the connected verse above and below, but you will also gain insight of a personal nature by answering the following four questions: (1) Like the disciples in the text, do you seek to understand the word taught and/or preached Sunday when you don’t initially get what the specific message sent by God meant? (2) What kind of soil describes you in regard to how you received the word of God yesterday? (3) Are you aware that there is nothing wrong in asking questions to ensure you gain understanding? (4) Were you moved to be a sower of the word, going out to spread seeds of truth as part of your personal evangelism endeavors (plural)?
Thanks for meditating on the word and for not hesitating to answer the four questions above with integrity. Have a great week! Be blessed!
“His disciples asked Jesus what this parable meant, and he answered, ‘The knowledge of the secrets of the Kingdom of God has been given to you, but to the rest it comes by means of parables, so that they may look but not see, and listen but not understand. This is what the parable means: the seed is the word of God. The seeds that fell along the path stand for those who hear; but the Devil comes and takes the message away from their hearts in order to keep them from believing and being saved. The seeds that fell on rocky ground stand for those who hear the message and receive it gladly. But it does not sink deep into them; they believe only for a while, but when the time of testing comes, they fall away. The seeds that fell among thorn bushes stand for those who hear; but the worries and riches and pleasures of this life crowd in and choke them, and their fruit never ripens. The seeds that fell in good soil stand for those who hear the message and retain it in a good and obedient heart, and they persist until they bear fruit.’” (Luke 8:9-15 GNT)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King
I yearn to understand the word so that I may live by it and not sin against my Father. Based on yesterday’s soil, I would say the word fell on good soil. I do seek to understand, so I do ask questions. I’ve learned that if you don’t ask questions, you won’t gain knowledge. I was moved by the word, yet I still struggle to be a personal evangelist. I look forward to our new Sunday School series.
Great response! Love your pointing out about the benefit of asking questions. Your struggles to be a personal evangelist, well, many of us have struggled. God’s word will help us be better. Thank you as always for your reflections and response. Be blessed!
This passage is a call for self-examination. It challenges believers to look at their own lives and remove things that block their faith. A true believer aims to be the good soil by letting God’s Word guide their daily actions and bear good fruit.
Teach Sis. LaTanza! Well said! Be blessed!
Thank you for the word!
Bless you El! I wrote “Opinion 6.5” for Tuesday’s meditation. Be blessed more!