LIKE A FARMER
As a disciple of Jesus we are like farmers who plough the ground, sow the seed (of the Word) and bear a crop for God. Farmers believe and expect the seeds to grow.
Farmers get up early and work hard. They work especially hard when the crop is mature and ready to be harvested.
Farmers do not waste time and neither do the disciples of Jesus.
Like a farmer, sometimes we sow the seed of God’s Word and it is not received. This can be discouraging, but we must keep going.
God calls us to keep casting the seed for the Kingdom.
We are like hard working farmers in God’s farmland. We believe that the seeds will lead to a great harvest!
READ SCRIPTURE
2 TIMOTHY 2:6-7, NIV
6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.
7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
MATTHEW 13:3-23, NIV
3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
9 He who has ears, let him hear.”
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
13 This is why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: ” ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
17 For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:
19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.
23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
LIVE IT
With another Christian friend, sit down and carefully read Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 13:3-23.
Ask yourselves the following questions and discuss your thoughts together:
1. What are the four different places that the seed fell? Discuss what the results are of the first three places that seed was scattered? What is Jesus talking about here?
2. In versus 18-23, Jesus explains the meaning of the parable. What does He mean by a crop “yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (verse 23)? According to this verse, what is necessary to experience this kind of abundance?
PRAYER
“Father, I pray that you would help me live a disciplined life, as well as learn the daily disciplines of prayer and meditating on your Word. I know you will give me this discipline and I seek to do everything I can to be faithful through your power. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen!”
